How to Set Goals for 2013

This is a little story of how to set goals for 2013.

{Get cozy, this is a long post.} Each and every December, I take inventory of my year and re-cap all the events that have left an impression on me - good or bad.  Each and every December, I write, re-write, plan, create a vision, design, and agonize what the best way is to approach the coming year.  What can I say, it's the controlling, perfection seeking Libra in me.

But this past December, the story went a little differently...

As some of you know, I've been on this "accidental" yet deliberate, spiritual journey.  Yes - contradicting, but I say that because, I feel like I am being guided and placed in situations that are very "spur of the moment", however, I am taking actions to seek and learn more about myself. 

A lot of what I've learned about my self, are how to recognize the things, the people, and the situations that don't serve me.  Another way that I like to put it, is that they don't "suit" me.  My intellecutal, realistic, analytical self, sees the facts, recognizes on paper that it makes sense, however, my passionate, true self, can't connect to it.  Make sense at all?! 

It's like being in a relationship where it all "seems" like it is suppose to work, but your gut feeling, that little nudging that you can sense - but mostly ignore - is saying, "this isn't the best experience and relationship for you, get the eff out!!".  But perhaps you don't quite have the courage, or not sure how to remover yourself from the relationship.  And for years you are un-happy, you try and try, until one day... you finally sever yourself, and you FEEL FANTASTIC! It's freeing, you feel relieved, hopeful, excited, a bit nervous perhaps, but good nervous.  That my friend, is what this year has been like for me on many levels and I am so excited about releasing all control, planning, agonizing over details and am going with the flow!  I am removing all doubt, worry, fear, and control - and I feel the best, the happiest, the most hopeful that I have in a long time.  And the funny thing is, things are falling into place, as they need to.

Here is a great quote that pretty much sums up my attitude.

NOW, let me say that I'm not letting go of setting goals completely.  Everyone needs to design their lives to some degree.  Make plans. Have dreams. Know what you truly want in all areas of your life.

However, this year, I know, deep down within my intuitive self, that I am on the right path, and my job is to simply have fun with life and take action every day.

So this weekend {what I would normally spend all of December doing} I will write my intentions of how I want to feel in 2013, what I would like to see, do, and design a few ideas of "how" I can execute them.  But I will do so from a place of knowing, love, and passion.  I truly hope you set goals from this place too.  

Here are my tips for how to set goals for 2013!

1. Spend some time over the course of a few days and recognize what makes you feel good, happy, passionate.  Whether it's preparing a yummy meal for a loved one, or doing physical activity, or solving a problem.  Those "things or experiences" that make you feel excited, are usually what you are truly passionate about. Use your intuition more - that is what you are doing here.
2. Take time out, sit quietly in a coffee shop, in nature, cozied up in bed  {or wherever it feels good} and write.  Journal.  Let your feelings come out.  Describe your perfect day.  Your perfect relationship.  Your perfect vacation.  Let it all come out on paper.  Then close that journal.  And let the feelings take over.  What makes you feel excited? Feel like taking action and making it happen?  Those are what you should spend energy on, and re-visit as often as  you need.
3. Cut out pictures. Words. and piece it all together.  Put them in your journal.  I have photos of flowers, pretty jewellery, my family, destinations, anything that makes me feel excited, happy, beautiful.  They will inspire you when you need a nudging to follow you gut - your intuition.
4. Decide - powerful word - once and for all, what makes you happy.  How you want to spend your day and know, whole-heartedly, that you can do, be, and have anything.  Getting to this knowing takes time for some.  For me, it took over a year.  Your job is to get there - in whatever time frame you need to.  
5. Share your dreams (these are goals people) with a loved one.  Someone you trust to open yourself up to.  There is great power in sharing.
6. Take action.  If you like to paint - then paint.  Don't worry if it's not as good as you hope, or in the right material.  Just create.  If you like to cook, then cook.  Experiment and play.  That is the secret.  Do what you love to do, and 2013 will be the best year yet for you.  

I am going to share one last thing.  A little story.  Rather personal, but funny and is the proponent to me designing, crafting and launching this blog.  A little over 10 months ago, I found myself in situations where I was being challenged.  Whether it was an event, a conversation, an article, a video - they all left me with the same question.  "Are you living your authentic truth?" I also heard things like, "be real" or "people want you to be YOU", or "do what you love" among other things that were along the same lines.  

Then, one day, a few month ago, I sat with my kids and watched an episode of American Top Gear.  Yup, we love all episodes of Top Gear, an I have to say, I am most amused at the American version.  While laughing and enjoying the antics on one particular episode, something hit me.  Hard.  Smack in the middle of my forehead. These 3 characters, are having a blast, driving fun cars, across the country, are up to all kinds of shenanigans, and enjoying life.  I'm sure non of them thought to themselves that when I grow up, I am going to be on a cool car show, and get paid to drive around, have fun and be on tv.  NO.  And it occurred to me, that anyone {including me}, can do what they love, what they are passionate about, have fun every day, make a living and grow from.  It doesn't have to fit into a box.  A plan. Or even conventional ideas.  You just have to be passionate, take massive action, and do it!

Because of that moment, silly but true, I learned how to build this very site and design the life that I want.  I designed the graphics, the ideas. I took massive action, and now I am following my passion through written words, paint and paper, cooking, and creating and designing life.  And that to me is bliss. But most importantly, is that experiences, situations, and people have shown up in my life and are far beyond what I could have planned for or expected.  I truly believe that once you are on a passionate path, things fall into place, as they should. This has been the biggest lesson for me.

I hope this very long, but personal, post inspires you this year.  May 2013 be the best year ever.  May it be filled with beauty, goals, experiences that make your heart race and most of all that are experienced from a place of love.

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