12 Tips for 12 Months: To Remember Every Year

12 Tips for 12 Months: To Remember Every Year
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” Maya Angelou
“To everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Remember: Autumn in Red by Tone via Pixdaus

In the scheme of things, every holiday season becomes a time for reflection and preparation for the next phase; a New Year, new resolutions, new plans for our lives and our loved ones. We take stock of what we have gained or lost, accomplished or abandoned and make promises to do more or better. Yet, I think we can develop an approach to welcoming each year that is life long, sustainable and attainable; an approach that is fluid, dynamic and not bound by the ticking of a clock or the numerical shift on a calendar.

Recently, I was reading a great guest blog post by James Chartrand of Men with Pens on Brian Clark’s popular blog – Copyblogger. The post titled “Get an Evergreen for Your Blog This Holiday Season,” was about writing content that people return to read again and again because the message remains timeless or “evergreen.” I concur. Each year we live on earth should be seen as a time to add richness and context to our lives – replenish our evergreen tree – as a way to hold the history of what came before. Of course, the operative word is to add to what we already have not toss it all out and start anew. A newer you is feasible if you add to your life story and enrich it…

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” Dr. Napoleon Hill

The World as We See it: Mundo Mandala by Susan Rovo

Let’s imagine then, how much more compelling our efforts to live a fulfilling life would be if we weren’t bogged down by unrealistic goals, deadlines, or wishful thinking triggered by that 12:00AM bubbly induced euphoria on any new year’s day. Quite often, when the guests leave and our fog lifts, we flash back to that now unsettling place/party we left a few hours before; a place littered with our empty promises. So before the guilt sets in, rest, take a leisurely bath, and get back to the business of honoring yourself and your long term commitments. You don’t need a new list of resolutions, goals, gimmicks or what-have-yous. Maintain an evergreen list that you can revisit and replenish as you continue to grow into the Best You!

My list of twelve tips to remember every year is designed to be explored as we reach for the sky. The tips are not rigid or set in a January to December fashion. Choose to honor them in your life in whichever order you fancy. If we view each tip as a positive affirmation, we will act with faith and confidence because a positive affirmation carries the seed of possibility that will attract good things to us.

As you choose a tip and act on its advice, you may ask yourself: What’s the goal here? Is it to learn to cook, run a marathon, conquer stress, stay in touch with friends, finish projects, write a book, learn a language, gain family time, make peace with the body you have, be the phenomenal you, be driven and ambitious, manifest your fairytale life or just simply be…? I would say just get out of your head and follow your heart.

“The journey is the reward.” Chinese Proverb

Each Year of Life: Closer to The Tip of the Iceberg ~ Blue Iceberg

Twelve (12) Tips for Twelve (12) Months:
REFLECT:-
RENOUNCE:-
RESOLVE:-
REORGANIZE:-
REINVENT:-
RELAX:-
REFRESH:-
RE-GIFT:-
REIGNITE:-
REJOICE:-
REJUVENATE:-
REST:-

I will add an explanation for these tips later so do come back… Meanwhile, remember to pause, breathe and trust that we are exactly where our beliefs/thoughts/reactions have led us. Great things can be created by a shift in our thinking. What do you think? What are your feelings about the yearly return to familiar holiday rituals? Do Share. Thank you!

PHOTO CREDITS:
Autumn in Red by Tone ~ via Pixdaus
Mundo Mandala by Susan Rovo ~ via Google Images
Blue Iceberg by National Geographic ~ via Google Images

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank