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

 Found On

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

Arienne Loves...TiLT #8

 Photo Credit

What am I grateful for today?
Kisses Hot yoga the phone to catch up with friends Doggie dates Crafty People We Heart It (where I source a lot of my images from Scented candles (currently burning Coconut Lime from Ma Butter) Mind over matter My puppy Skype A clean courtyard Gala Darling Coloured pens My organiser '21 days to change a habit' pad from Kikki-K Parking spaces Kisses

What are you grateful for SSSs?

Make it as you wish!
Arienne xo 

Arienne Loves...TiLT #7

 Photo Credit: Me! A wonderful flower shop in Borough Markets London

Welcome back to Things I Love Thursday. The gratitude post inspired by the sparkling Gala Darling. I do find that seeking things out in my life that I am grateful for or paying attention to things that make me stop and think makes me happier in my life. You should try it. Go on - give it a go!

Things I am grateful for and things that made me smile this week:
The above picture Books & Writers - I totally admire you and what you have to teach me and what you inspire in me! The ability to travel My ability to see wonder in the everyday Kids getting people's attention from the balcony of the Tate Modern in very creative ways Cringeful families that made me question why I judge unconsciously The flowers I returned home to courtesy of my Aunty Ursula - what a lovely welcome Seeing The Man again after a month - love love love Dad cooking my favourite dishes - hello Gazpacho! Smelling like garlic on my Bangkok - Sydney flight (sorry! I couldn't stop myself from eating my favourite Thai dish - Som Tam during transit!) Mango and sticky rice Cranking up my juicer for the first time in ages My portable light to read books in darkness Clean sheets Victoria from Qantas getting me home after the grounded Qantas flights Having a fancy smancey camera that allowes me to take awesome pics with such little photography skill Catching the tube in my Halloween outfit Nipple tassels (maybe I should get some?!) Risotto - why have I not ordered you before?! Zander - whose full name is now Zander Aqua Zorro Bandana Banderras Varga Gorlach Talking about Zander non-stop to purposefully 'annoy' my sister Liane Being on a mission to get my little sister reinstated to her chef's apprenticeship which was cancelled because 'students going to a gifted school should not attend TAFE (a technical college)' - WTF?!?!?!

What are you grateful for SSSs? What made you smile this week?

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo 

From the Senses To the Mind To the Heart

Ears are wonderful things. Eyes are wonderful things. The mind is a wonderful thing.  And the reason? Well, because they are all tools that can help us expand, pull us upwards and grow.

Of course it is helpful to have the clips to listen to via the ears and the items to read via the eyes to process and enlarge our lives with! Like so many things we are exposed to on a daily basis, it is important to look at the quality of what we are allowing into our space and attention.

Just like we may become more conscious of avoiding negative inputs such as the news, we can also start to look at exposing ourselves to more uplifting, educational and inspirational ideas.

For me, doing this makes a world of difference. If I’m feeling a little off or unmotivated, reading one of my favourite blogs can make me laugh or inspire me to get back on track. When I am doing some mundane chore I normally have my iPod in or my laptop playing some podcast or audiobook (that is not me in the accompanying pic though). I love, love, LOVE audiobooks and podcasts (did I manage to stress my love for them enough??).  I think it satisfies the multi-tasker in me.

Podcasts to Listen To
There are a huge range of entertaining, informative, educational and inspirational things to listen to depending on what your interests are. Here are some ideas (and some of my favourites!):


The 10thousandgirl Campaign (surprise!): 1othousandgirl’s series of podcast interviews
Money Girl’s Quick & Dirty Tips For A Richer Life: While it is an American podcast with US references, it still has some great tips
TedTalks: The mind opening TED talks are available for download
A Vampire Story (for those of you who are missing Twilight)
Hamish & Andy: A barrel of laughs from the Radio duo
Tranquility Du Jour (my absolute inspirational favourite!!): One tranquility seeker’s sparkly lifestyle musings 
Working in Heels: Discussion of issues related to women in business 
herBusiness: Insights for women in business 
SocialInvest: Interviews with figures throughout the social investment and the civil society sector
iTunes University: This is something pretty amazing. Free lectures and seminars from universities around the world including Yale and Harvard

And of course the Savvy Sassy She Podcast!

When to Listen
There are a myriad of times when listening to a podcast or audiobook will add to your stimulation in the moment. These include:

Driving
Exercise/walking
Train/bus
Housework
Shower
Doing mundane tasks
Crafting
Cooking
Walking the dog
I’m sure there are lots of other times you can come up with! Share with us in the comments section.

How To
If you want to know a little more about how podcasts work and how you can use iTunes to access them visit: http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/

Sources
So where can you find podcasts and audiobooks from?
iTunes
Podiobooks
Audible
www.booksshouldbefree.com
The local library! There is normally an audiobook section in the library that you can borrow from.

Players:
MP3 play such as an iPod or your phone with a fab pair of headphones 
Your computer

If you’re already an enthusiast – share your favourites with us! If you’re a podcast or audiobook newbie, come and discover the new way of devouring content. And enjoy!

Arienne Gorlach is the content manager with the 10thousandgirl Campaign and can sometimes be a bit of a bookworm (okay, a total bookworm)…

Photo Credit 

http://www.10thousandgirl.com/2011/08/30/from-the-senses-to-the-mind-to-the-heart/

Arienne Loves...TiLT #6

 Via

I'm going back to basics this week with what I love and am grateful for. Sometimes it is so easy to get wrapped up in wanting things that are wholly unnecessary while taking for granted what is really important. Sure, I still covet the gorgeous accessory or latest gadget and love surrounding myself with things of beauty and there is definitely nothing wrong with that as long as it is balanced.

Lush green grass Blue skies Clean, fresh water Caressing breezes Nurturing sunshine Flowers and blooms My senses Nutritious food Tea My family My friends The Man That I can read and write That I have an education I have an identity I know love I have choices I have basic freedoms I have a home I am safe in my everyday I can afford my basic needs I can choose how to spend my time Charlie-bear the cat Peter, our new found spider friend that lives at the bottom of the stairs  My physical health

What may you be taking for granted? Take a moment to make your own list.

Make it as you wish SSSs!
Arienne xo