Today is January 1st of 2011. We've just completed another decade and are traveling, full speed ahead, into the next.
Pondering the new year, I focused on the word "new." Every year, around December 20th, we begin to talk about what we hope to accomplish in the "new" year only to forget about it by the third week in January. We resolve to eat healthier, read more, lose weight, be more committed to our chosen deity, get more rest and be more organized. Over time, however, we become less and less resolute about our intentions. We slack off and (if you're anything like me) when December comes around again, you reflect on how you had 11 months to make things happen and how much farther along you'd be had you fully committed.
This new year, the question is: what's so "new" about repeating the same pattern over and over again?
This year, I opted out of the pattern. Why have the exact same regret every.single.year?
A few weeks ago, I made myself a vision board for 2011-2012. The purpose of a vision board is to have a visual reminder of one's intentions. From my experience, when one keeps before them the image of what they want to accomplish, they take active steps that ensure they will fulfill those intentions. No matter how wild or unlikely the goal, people can use visualization to help manifest their intentions.
On my vision board, I took stock photos from the internet that represent milestones I would like to experience in my life this year and into 2012. I taped these photos onto poster board and wrote affirmative statements under each photo. Most of my statements begin with "I will...." For example, if part of your vision is to buy a new car this year, you would say, "I will be able to purchase a new SUV this year." Some may even choose to add scriptural statements to their vision board for each photo. Make sure to keep a tone of intention and certainty in all of your statements and stay away from indecisive or negative words.
My vision board hangs on the wall in my living room. This way I will see it everyday, several times each day.
Let me pre-emptively say that this is not some form of new age magic as many in the religious community have asserted. The fact is that it doesn't matter how much you fantasize about a fabulous life, without a belief that you can achieve those things, you'll have no focus. Without focus, you'll be hard-pressed to make any of those fantasies/dreams/goals manifest because your actions will work against them.
Point blank, just as we can (and usually do) envision a negative outcome in certain situations and in short order, the thing we feared rears its ugly head, we can use the gift of vision for a more positive and beneficial end.
I will use this blog to update you all throughout the year on how I am working this plan in my life. Likewise, I hope you all will comment and let me know how your visions are manifesting as well.
Until next time, have a fruitful new year!
