How to: Review Your Year and Create the 12 Months Ahead

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Sometimes we charge through the year. Time flies and we can't even remember what we did last week let alone last month.

We're on automatic pilot just doing, doing, doing.

Running from one to-do to the next. Meeting deadlines. Scrambling around last minute for things.
Sure, there may have been some fun holidays, great dinners with friends, nights out (that you, ahem, may not remember) and you went to that gym class. But then you realise that the year has passed and you didn't achieve x, y OR z.

And what the hell was this year about anyway? What did you really do?

Sound familiar? Feel familiar? Imagine going through the rest of your life like this - Not clear on what was good or bad. Not having the highlights jump out at you. Not seeing the lessons so you could make it better the next time round. Not really reaching or achieving anything that is important to you.

Icky isn't it!

One of our favourite concepts at 10thousandgirl is that you spend time planning a party, a house renovation, a garage sale, your shopping list and the wedding, but how much time do you spend planning your life?

It is simple to change but it takes effort...

Bringing some attention to what you have achieved! Pat yourself on the back for accomplishing something. Review the events, highlights and lessons learned in the previous 12 months. This can be done at any time - not just at the end of the year.

Then create priorities and intentions for the year. Focus on what is important. Set goals. Put plans in place to reach them. Have fun. Celebrate milestones. Then look forward to reviewing the year with a greater sense of satisfaction and joy.

To help you do this Zoe Lamont and I put together (drum roll please!):

The Little Book of Year In Year Out Goodness!
 
Download the Free Review Your Year and Create the 12 Months Ahead Workbook

It's a series of fun exercises to help you gain clarity and purpose around the year ahead after processing the reflections from the past 12 months. The booklet covers areas such as:
     Reviewing the events and highlights of 2011;
     Collating in one place the things you are grateful for;
     Building or amending your bucket list;
     Reassessing your goals and creating new ones for the upcoming year;
     Setting your intention and priorities for 2012;

Here’s to a 2011 that taught us a lot and to a 2012 that will be packed with whatever you want it to be!

Print it out and brainstorm away - follow the exercise, fill in the blanks.

Make it what you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

My Passion. My Inspiration. My Life. My Path.

I started writing this a couple of weeks ago. It was total stream of consciousness coming out so it took me a little while to make it make sense! But here it is...
 
Okay, I'll admit it, I've had a pretty bad week. And I feel a little like I'm bearing part of my soul so be kind lovely readers!

I had a major freak out about my finances after paying for my much planned for flight to Europe to attend my dream of a lifetime art and yoga retreat in Paris and Provence and to meet The Man (aka my Fiance)'s family in Hungary.

Not having a regular income has taken its toll on my savings and finances. I have put many great financial and savings strategies in place, but coming back to basics - having some form of income helps (what a surprise!!!). I've known for a little while I would need to pay attention to this and now is the time!

Sometimes going through a 'freak out' (for want of a much better term) helps you pay attention to what is important. And it can take something big to really motivate you to change or make something a priority.

So I'm doing something about it. I'm putting a plan in place to bridge the gap between where I am now and where I want to be. I'm also reconciling my emotions around it - trying to stop beating myself up about what I should/could have done differently income-wise and appreciating the massive steps I've taken to create the life I want.

Savvy Sassy She is all about working out how to live a life that is how you wish it to be. To question the 'shoulds' in your life and consciously create what you truly want and need. And to do this with sparkly bits and tools and fun and laughter and a great community along the way. I am no expert (but I hope to bring you some experts in different parts of life in the future) and my experience is a journey too. A journey to create what I see my life as being and all the up and down experiences along the way that get me closer to that vision.

After a wonderful and much needed discussion with my mother (thanks mama!!) I brought everything back to why I have chosen this life for myself. We all have bad days, but bringing our attention to the reason why we've made certain choices can help us understand and put things in perspective. The choice in the short run may have not-so-nice consequences, but in the bigger picture that choice is right and is helping to bring you in the right direction.

Why I am choosing to follow my passions and dreams and create a life and a lifestyle around it....

Working in the family biz didn't work for me. Working full time in a university didn't work for me. After 4 years of the SSS idea plodding along in the background I decided to make a go of it. Who knows if it will be as successful (though I'm working my arse of to make it so). It may be a massive learning curve, but I'm willing to give it my all. To decide to make it happen. To not chicken out. To not have a Plan B to show the universe I am serious.

This is important enough to go through some ups and downs for. Making a difference in women's lives. Waking women up to see how they can make their lives work. Empowering them with information, view points, perspectives, systems, tools, inspiration and like minds? Yes, it is worth it. It is important enough. I refuse to be on my deathbed looking back at my life saying "I wish I had given SSS a go. I wish I could have seen if it made an impact." (ooooh, even writing that gives me the heebie jeebies).

I love being able to design my day though I miss structured routine.
I love having a say in my priorities and carrying them out.
I love getting in contact with women's real hearts and minds.
I love doing what I love everyday.

This is My Passion. My Inspiration. My Life. My Path.

This inspiration link from the fav galadarling.com came at the right time!

PS - any paid part time job suggestions/offers?! ;)

Making it as I wish SSSs!
Arienne xo

Week in Review: 28 Jan - 3 Feb

Lotsa Zander Time! (pictured with Monkey)

Sister date on Skype

Watch the Men & Women's Australian Open Final (missing the tennis already)

Worked on new sales workshop

Family lunch at the pub

Started with the Goddess Circle

Friend date out for dinner

Got coffee machine on sale :) Thanks Mum!

Booked camping trip for me, The Man and The Dog

Lots of SSSs work. Lots!

Lots of juicy, juicy ideas for SSS...Excited.

Worked down by the Bay in a beautiful office in nature

Started recording Librivox story - about half way through!

Asked everyone to like my Savvy Sassy She Facebook Page - thank you all!
Focus group planning for tomorrow :)

Started watching Game of Thrones - dangerous distraction!
Helped prep upcoming Free 10thousandgirl Webinar

Started creating Weebly website, opened Hootsuite account, signed up with Mailchimp for newsletters.

On My Bookshelf: The Happiness Project

Title: The Happiness Project
Author: Gretchen Ruben
Website: http://www.happiness-project.com/
Genre: Non-Ficition - Inspiration

This got my juices flowing. Taking time to understand what makes us happy and what makes us unhappy. Then seeing how we can play with the everyday to create more happiness. My whole life is a happiness project!

Strength & Surrender

Photo Credit

 

In yoga class the other day, two beautiful words floated into my mind and I grabbed them:

STRENGTH

& 

SURRENDER

After a few years of emotional struggling I have built much more inner strength. Strength in myself, strength in my life, strength in my beliefs, strength in what my purpose is. 

I now bless that struggle because it has brought me to this place. A new place of wonder and of excitement and empowerment that I can make a difference to others and that I can make a difference to myself.

Yes I still have bad days and I still have my struggles, but now I am sure that I can come out the other side. I trust that I am creative enough, that I am resourceful enough, that I am true to myself enough, and I have a great support system. 

I trust I am worthy, loved and blessed. Who told me that? Well, the most important person did - ME.

Photo Credit

 

So much of this process was a massive learning to stop resisting things. And stop setting up expectations. 

I now do everything I can towards something and then I surrender. Surrendering takes strength. It is not about giving up yourself, your goals or your power. It is surrendering to the flow.

I surrender to bad days. Then they pass quicker.

I surrender to those emotional rollercoasters. Then they pass quicker.

I surrender to letting go of expectations. They're not important anymore and then life is easier.

I surrender to the universe to help support me in the right direction.

One of my favourite quotations is "What you resist persists". So do that thing, feel that feeling, learn that lesson and then let go - release it and progress.

Photo Credit

 

I still fight for things I believe in, I still go after things that require effort. I still strive towards achieving what is important to me. There are still mistakes and forehead slaps. But I try to go with it.

Knowing when to fight and when to surrender takes strength - I'm building that muscle (and I've come a long way!).

Are you with me? 

have strength then surrender...

Make it as you wish SSSs!

Arienne xo