New Year Aspirations, Tolkein and 12 Rules of St. Benedict

I always begin a new year with a set of heart centered life “aspirations” to accomplish over the next twelve months.  These are goals and experiences to challenge and enrich my life.  Instead of resolutions, I define a  “mindset” theme to remind and push me towards my goals.  It is the big idea for the year.  This year’s centering mindset theme is freedom.  In 2019, I will work on freeing up more ways to bring serenity, growth and new experiences into daily living.  With a freedom mindset , I can work harder to open more creative space into my day and set up the necessary conditions to be successful.  It also means changing or freeing myself from a few habits that typically hold me back.  When setting your goals, be honest about the areas where growth opportunities truly exist.  You want to strive to accomplish things which are meaningful and stretch you into new areas.

The start of a new year is a wonderful reminder that we should always strive to become better and look for new ways to bring happiness into our lives.   To do that, try to keep a growth mindset focused on the “bigger” future you want to create.  Don’t focus on the past or you’ll get stuck there living the same year all over again.  The below quote from Dan Sullivan is one of my favorites.  Discover exciting ways to learn and do things that are unfamiliar.  Try experiences never done before.  With honest reflection, you’ll find great ways to really challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone. Tracking progress, including even the smallest steps taken towards reaching your new year aspirations will help ensure your success.

Below is my new year theme and the conditions (or steps) I am creating to be successful.

2019 FREEDOM THEME
To maintain a freedom mindset to bring forward more growth opportunities, serenity and happy life experiences into my day

Keys to success:
1.  Smart time management
2.  Learn and grow my reading life (so many great people to learn from!)
3.  Journal daily (keep track of progress)
4.  Fitness & health (free up time; choose better health habits)
5.   Complete one new experience a month never done before (outside of my comfort zone)

New Things Ahead:

1. Grow Reading Life (become an expert on J.R.R.Tolkein; increase reading goal to 50 books)
2. Pick up painting (starting small with a DIY kit)
3. Put a sight-seeing list together of places I have never been
4. Take an online course outside of my usual mantra (photography, art, gardening)
5. Study the practice of centering prayer (I am fascinated by St. Benedict’s 12 Steps in Humility)
6. Incorporate a new fitness routine (have started yoga for beginners)

Happy 2019 everyone!

May God’s blessings fill your life with health and happiness.

P.S. the photo above is my 2018 Christmas present.  It is a handmade edition of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.