The start of a New Year.  It's always exciting isn't it, as we unwrap the blank page in front of us ready to splash the colours and words of our dream life all over, bigger and brighter than ever before.  Because that's what it is all about really isn't it, the hope, the promise of something better on the horizon, the year when we fulfill all of those dreams we haven't quite got round to yet.  The goals and dreams that were left lying on the side of our lives last year, and the year before, as we returned to old habits that fit us so well, like easing into a cosy, dressing gown, and wrapping it around us tight.  But no, we vow, this year will be different, this year I will climb Everest in those gorgeous shorts I haven't been able to fit into for the last 3 years whilst drinking only green smoothies and earn a million in the process...all whilst keeping my backpack perfectly tidy and organised!  

Okay, maybe it's just me but perhaps you too often start the New Year with a flourish, full of ideas and energy, only to find that by mid-january you have run out of steam.  Over the years I have written hundreds of goal-plans, made endless resolutions and indulged in list-making galore and yes, some of the goals get achieved but honestly...most of them don't!  And, often, my goal-plans are so numerous that there is no room for new dreams to surface as the year progresses leaving my mind and energy stretched too far, so that even if I achieve some wonderful new goals that pop into my head I feel bad for the ones left behind - goal-setters guilt!  

So, this year I am trying something different, a new experiment that may...or may not...actually work!  

I am getting realistic...I know, it doesn't sound very sexy does it in this shiny world of 'you can have anything you want' if you just visualise, dream, work hard enough etc.  And I do still believe that you can have anything you want just maybe not all at the same time and not in one go.  My goals are often spread so wide and so big that inevitably I cannot sustain the energy and momentum required to make them happen.  So, this year I'm focusing in and going smaller so that hopefully this time next year I will be able to make shiny new goals instead of just rehashing the old ones.    
 

Guiding me all the way is my word of the year 'Nourish'.  Everything I do this year has to nourish me in some way - body, mind, spirit etc. otherwise it just isn't getting through the door!   And so, whilst some recommend setting your sights on things like 100 things you want to do in the month ahead or 365 ideas for your business or 20 things a minute you can do to improve your health (okay I may be exaggerating slightly but you get the point) I am going with simpler, humbler goals such as 5 places I want to visit or 5 things I can do for my business this year and 3 things I can do to support my local community etc.  (You can grab a copy of my goal planner workbook here for just 99p with all proceeds going to www.treesisters.org).

Keeping it small allows me to stay focused and create a better action plan in order to actually make these things happen.  And, instead of vowing to do something 'everyday', I am planning some exciting mini-projects during the year ahead.  For example, every year for the past 4 years (probably more) I have started the New Year intending to practice yoga everyday rather than think about it everyday and actually do it once a week (okay, probably less) so this year I am planning a '10 days of yoga' mini project - this is way more manageable for me and may kick-start me into doing more and it may not, but I'm pretty sure it will be fun and I will feel a great sense of achievement doing it (I'll let you know when I start in case any of you fancy joining me, we can be cheerleaders for eachother).  

So, here's to a year ahead of nourishment, mini-goal setting and beautiful dreams actually coming true ♥