Chinese New Year, New Moon, it’s a great time to set some intentions for this year or even this decade!
“A dream without a plan is just a wish” – Katherine Paterson
Take time to prepare by calming the mind, focus on your breath and then start to imagine or dream about the things you want more of in your life. Maybe it’s a new job, change of career, better work life balance, better health, more time to enjoy your hobbies, better relationships with your loved ones, a holiday…
- Get out your notebook or journal and write down as many dreams you can, don’t limit yourself. Imagine that you have all the time, money, resources you need to make these dreams a reality. Writing them down is a very important stage in this process
- How are you going to achieve them? What steps can you take to help you achieve them? For example: start a holiday fund, research online courses etc.
- Break it down. Choose 3 goals to start with as too many big goals can seem daunting. Breaking these goals down into smaller manageable chunks can help you stay on track. You will see results and create a positive feedback loop. You can also readjust your goals if you need to. Make sure your goals are in line with your own values. Think about what are the most important things in your life? Your family? Home? Travel? Learning?
- Obstacles. What things, people or other obstacles might get in the way of you achieving your goals (not enough time, your own lack of confidence, money etc). Write down ways you can overcome these obstacles if they present themselves!
- Accountability and Support. This is really important! Who champions you? Who has your back? Who knows what to say when you start to doubt yourself? Ask this person to be your Accountability Buddy, tell them your dreams and ask them to check in with you every 6 weeks to check how it’s going (not to give you a hard time if it’s not going well but to encourage you to keep going). It’s also important that you don’t give yourself a hard time if you slip! We all fall short, make mistakes and take wrong turns but by treating ourselves with understanding and kindness, we can get back on track and try again. Our greatest enemy is our own negative self talk.
- Daily habits that will support you. What daily habits can you incorporate in your life that will help you stay on track? Looking after your health, getting enough sleep, meditating, exercising, getting out in nature, socialising with friends that make you feel good? Write a list of the things that will help you reach your goals. “Dreams don’t work unless you do” – John C. Maxwell
- Let go of the things that hold you back. Write a list of the negative things that you tell yourself that will stop you from reaching your potential….. I don’t have enough time/ability/ confidence/money etc. Now score all of them out! Let them go!!
My story.
In 2019 I read “Your Dream Life Starts Here” by Kristina Karlsson and wrote down my dreams. I also enrolled in the Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training course which lasted a year. The course was amazing, I learned so much about the history, philosophy & practice of yoga, anatomy, meditation and also so much about myself. Since graduating I now have the privilege of teaching yoga and sharing its benefits with lots of other people, I was delighted to be asked to go back and lead the Homework sessions on the training course that I did last year, and I had a telephone interview with Kristina Karlsson who would like to include my story in her next book. What a year! It didn’t happen by magic though, it took hard work, persistence and determination and lots of overcoming my own obstacles!
Sometimes it pays to let yourself dream and be open to the opportunities that appear.
I hope 2020 is an amazing year for you and that all your dreams come true 😊
Yoga with Liz 