Happy New Year!!

I hope you are all enjoying 2010!

It’s going to be hard to top 2009 for me. I had a banner year! But, somehow, I KNOW that 2010 is going to be my best year ever! I hope you KNOW the same

I spent the last week on vacation. Of course, vacation for me just means I’m a little more selective about which emails and phone calls I answer I have decided to take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s every year. I love to spend the time reflecting on the year that’s past and then setting goals (NOT resolutions) for the coming year.

I probably do overkill compared to most people, but it certainly helps me to see how much I’ve grown in all areas of my life and it helps me to shoot for even bigger goals in the coming year. I have some pretty big goals for this coming year, but I believe in stretching myself to almost impossible goals. That way, even if I miss the goal, I still get much further than I would if I had set a puny, easy to reach goal.

After I’ve set my goals, I like to break the goals down into 12 monthly goals so that the huge goals don’t seem so overwhelming. I print out calendars for each month with my monthly goals listed so that I know what I’m shooting for. It really seems to help when I have my daily quiet time to focus on the goals that I have set for the month and for the year.

Last year I started a new habit which has really helped as well. On January 1, 2009 I sat down and wrote a note to myself for the first day of each month of the year. I reminded myself of my goals and what was important to me to focus on for the month. I encouraged myself to be the best that I can be. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to read those notes every month. I was amazed at the insight I had at the first of the year and how well I had exceeded my expectations for the year.

I did the same again this year. I sat down Friday and wrote myself 12 notes to be read on the first of each month. I definitely had writer’s cramp by the end of the day but it will be worth it when I read those notes each month and remember the enthusiasm and expectations that I have for making this my best year ever.

This year I’ve also started another habit. I know it’s going to take some effort, but I’m committed to sticking with it because my most important goal this year is to be joyful and happy each and every day. I should either be doing the things I love to do or working towards doing the things I love to do. I know that no matter what comes my way, I can find SOMETHING to be happy about.

So, I came up with a list of 20 questions that I am committed to answering each and every day. These questions are designed to help me stay focused on my goals and to get me feeling better by the time I’ve finished answering the questions. So, no matter how I’m feeling that morning, by the time I answer all the questions, I should be refocused and reminded of the important things in my life. I should be at least a little happier and more relieved about whatever may have been bothering me when I got out of bed.

This was my third day with this new habit and so far it has exceeded my expectations. I am SO excited about this coming year. Hopefully, these questions will keep this excitement alive throughout this whole year.

As I write this, I realize that it really all hinges on expectations. We usually live up to the expectations put on us whether they are put on us by ourselves or someone else. I’m beginning to see that the expectations I put on myself are so much more important than those put on us by others.

I’m putting high expectations on 2010. I’m expecting big things for myself and of myself. Those expectations are already drawing passion and excitement from me. I can not fail. But, for the sake of argument, let’s just suppose that I could fail. If I fail, I’ll fail after a year of passion and excitement. I’ll fail after being a little happier throughout each day than I was when I got out of bed. Can that even be considered a failure?

Make 2010 YOUR best year ever! Expect GREAT and Wonderful things. You really can NOT fail! And WHO deserves it more than YOU?