New Beginnings and Fresh Starts

Happy New Year everyone! In with the new and out with the old as the old adage goes. I had a good year, and a strong finish. Well... in some aspects of my life. In other areas, well... I'm still falling way short. I celebrated the victories, but now it's time to focus on the areas that need to really be strengthened. The exercise involves a piece of paper and a writing implement.

A classic approach is the old spider diagram, the life pie. Now there are a couple of variants out there. The life pie (as found in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way) is a circle with six sections: spirituality, exercise, play, work, friends, romance/adventure. Another one has nine sections: friends, body, mind, spirit, mission, money, growth, family, love. In each category you rate yourself from 1 to 10 on where you feel fulfilled. With 10 being the most fulfilled and satisfied and on the outer edge. And one in the middle, showing a contraction, and thus, in serious need of attention. Most people have lopsided spider diagrams. I know I do!

We are all multifaceted creatures and we all need to have balance and fulfillment in many areas of life. No matter the number of categories you choose from above to put in your life pie, it's the balance that is the most difficult.

Make a commitment to yourself. You owe it to your spirit. Make daily, weekly, and monthly play dates for your creative self, your loving self, your intellectual self, your curious self, your sporty self, your whatever self. It doesn't take long. It doesn't need to be all day (especially in the beginning). Allow yourself to make mistakes, start slow. Just do a little at a time. Build the positive habits, get out of your head, don't judge, and commit to designing and living the life you want. It's all about forming the daily habits that bring you closer to your goal.

I take a breath as I write this last piece. It's my favorite, quick-fix grounding exercise. It works every time. So peaceful. I feel calmer, more centered. Lucid. I look forward to this new year. To building on to what I have achieved the year before. And to be more expansive in the contracted areas in my life. I can't wait to make an effort and put myself out there. Pushing the edge. And becoming invulnerable in my vulnerability.

Wishing you health, wealth, and prosperity.