Happy New Year - A Little Late

The first full week of 2017 is in the history books and week number 2 is in full swing.

For some, the new year is a time to start over, resolutions have been made and likely already broken.

For others, January 1st is simply another day, other than a welcomed day off.  Nothing new planned and no resolutions made.

There is a group of people, however,  who view the new year as another phase in their life.  Their 2016 was mapped out with specific goal.s  Personal goals and professional / economic goals.  The beginning of the new year is spent reflecting on the prior year.  Where they fell short of their goals and what needs to be done to get back on track.  Their successes, celebrating them, learning from them and most importantly, gaining energy from them.  These individuals live their lives with a purpose, seldom complaining about politics or outside influences.  Instead they change what they can and adapt to what they cannot change.  Constantly moving forward with purpose and with a specific goal.

Often times people in this group are viewed as "Lucky", "Smart", "Advantaged", "Privileged", in other words, they have something that the rest of society doesn't have.  In reality, members of this group have made the decision to control the direction their life will take and have set, purposeful goals they wish to achieve.  In short, they live with purpose, their purpose.

Living with purpose will be a challenge.  You'll have to be dedicated to controlling your own life and outcomes.  There will be events out of your control that will cause you to alter your course and may even block the path your on.  It will seem "unfair" when this happens and many will use a lot of energy worrying and complaining.  Someone living with purpose will choose to use their energy to take a different path.  A path that may at first look like it's moving away from their goal to those on the "outside".  The key here is CHOICE.

The hardest part of living with a purpose is deciding on what you want.  The more focused, the better.  The second hardest part is making a plan to achieve what you want and then taking action daily until your goal is achieved.  Yes, you'll likely have to make changes in your daily routine, saying NO to things you really don't want to do and realizing that a few of those people around you will be "unsettled" by the changes you'll be going through.  (See Expect Resistance From Those Around You).

To gain confidence, start with something small that you've always wanted to do.  It could be reading a book that you've wanted to read for sometime or participating in a 10k run.  Pick your goal and plan what you must do every day to reach that goal.  The final step is scheduling the time each day to work toward your goal and being very "stingy" with that time.

What destination have you chosen for 2017?

All my best in 2017 and I trust you'll reach the goals you've set for yourself.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

2016 Is Almost Over So What Happens Next?

"We but mirror the world.  All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body.  If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.  As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.  This is the divine mystery supreme.  A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness.  We need not wait to see what others do." - Mahatma Gandhi

We're at the end of 2016 today and quite a lot has happened in the world in the past 364 days.  The big questions I'd like to ask is what happens next?  

The quote from Mahatma Gandhi is powerful and says that what happens next is entirely up to us as individuals.  Of course there will be circumstances and situations that come along that will have an effect on us that is out of our control.  The control that we do have is how we chose to deal with them.  In other words, we have the ability to change and adapt if we choose to do so.  

That choice and the belief that we can change is difficult, especially at first.  The reward is a feeling of piece and empowerment that will power your actions.  That I can guarantee.

Heading into 2017, please read and reread the words of Gandhi and put them to use.  It will help make 2017 a great year.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker