New Year... New Start!

It's snowing heavily today along the Front Range. Fresh white powder is hiding all the gray sludge that remained from our last storm, and watching that 'fresh start' occur in real-time outside the window got me thinking about 2008 and my own changes.

I always enjoy the holiday break and try to use the time to reassess my life, my priorities, my triumphs and my failures. A new year really is a new start - a cleansing of the old and welcoming of the new. I included a list of Questions to Ponder at the Year's End in my recent December newsletter, Ideas for Impact!, and I wanted to share them on my blog as well. So, here goes:

1. What are you grateful for? Gratitude is such a powerful emotion and it opens the doors to good things in life. Whether 2007 was a fantastic year or not, we all have a multitude of things to be thankful for. Ponder them and appreciate the positive people, things and events in your life.

2. What were the most significant events of 2007? Significant events can be wonderful or horrible, but we always learn from them - don't we? Think about the three turning points or epiphanies you experienced in 2007 and what you need to take away from those powerful events to become a better person.

3. What did you accomplish? Celebrate the joy of accomplishment! Pat yourself on the back and recognize the things you did right during the year.

4. What did you learn? As we walk through life, we are constantly being conditioned by our environment, our family, our friends, our job, etc... The end of the year is a great time to look back on learning experiences and make sure that you integrate new knowledge and skills into your everyday world.

5. What did you complete or release? Hopefully we are always growing and evolving - leaving old things behind and transforming into something fresh and new. Acknowledge the things you've completed during the year and rejoice in the negative areas of your life that have been released.

6. What still feels incomplete? It's important not to abandon everything when a new year begins, so remind yourself of unfinished business and make sure your goals for 2008 build on incomplete issues from 2007.

7. What were your biggest challenges, roadblocks or difficulties? We never enjoy looking back at difficulties, but, alas, that is often the only way to avoid repeating them. Ponder the challenges and failures of 2007 - and do your best to set yourself up for success in 2008.

8. How are you different this year than last? Every year we should see changes in ourselves. Think about the metamorphoses you have gone through. Keep the good changes and throw out the bad. Go into the New Year reading to live your best life and take on the world!