Celebrate the New Year. Change your life one area at a time with these simple steps. Notice that I did not say easy. Most of us can start just about anything. Following through to completion, though, that’s the hard work. Just ask anyone who’s been in a committed relationship for over 10 years.
Get Clear: When I first sit down with a student, this is where we start. Why are you here?
Use a process to help you clarify your goals. What do you want to do? How do you want to feel? I’ve used many processes over the years: T-chart, pros, and con list, tarot, meditation, etc. Most recently, the book from Danielle LaPointe, Desire Mapping has been a helpful guide. Getting clear on my feelings and then figuring out how to create a life to help me feel that way.
Commit: Once you are clear, you make a commitment to do the steps in order to achieve your goal. Sometimes we get stuck and feel we can’t go on. We give up before we see the results we want. This can be good or not. Sometimes we need to break things down into smaller steps. We may need help. We may need to ask for help. An aspect of wisdom is knowing when to keep going and when to move on.
Complete: Follow through with the steps that you need to do, congratulating yourself for each small success. You may need to break them down further. There are no mistakes. If something doesn’t go right, it clarifies more of what you don’t want as well as paving the way for what you do want. Keep on. Follow through. Follow up. Get it done. Just do it.
Many of my students say their biggest challenge is knowing what they really want. We have so many choices today and many times we are guided by loved ones away from the choices that seem unattainable. I remember being told that artists starve and don’t make money until they are dead. Only a few dancers make it to the top.
Now I realize that those dreams are real. That’s one of the ways the Universe guides us. Truly, follow your dreams and make them happen–one step at a time.
Reprinted from Every Body Yoga Blog
