As we near the beginning of 2015, our thoughts start to turn to resolutions and goals for the New Year.

To achieve what we set out to, it’s essential to create goals that are soul-driven and aligned with our truest selves.

As a Holistic Health and Life Coach, I find writing exercises are incredibly effective tools to help my clients get in touch with what they really want and effortlessly create the shifts that move them closer to their dreams.

Taking the time to write on the following topics increases our self-love, gets us in touch with our inner guidance and intuition and leaves us feeling empowered.

Writing these four simple lists creates the clarity and drive we need to craft resolutions with soul, and make 2015 the year that our dreams become reality. So grab a pen and paper, and let’s get writing!

1. Things that make me feel amazing.

Writing this list is such a joy-filled exercise that I’d put writing this list, on this list. Include anything that makes you feel great, from a cup of tea after a long day, to a great kiss, to hearing a song you love, to exploring new countries.

This list fills us with gratitude and trains us to notice all the little moments of wonder and joy in our days, and helps us to effortlessly cultivate a more positive and grateful mindset. As a bonus, the energy of these positive thoughts will work to attract even more of the good stuff into our lives.

Whenever we need a little boost, whether it’s after a stressful day or when we’re working though a tough transition, this list is the perfect go-to for ideas on how to show ourselves some TLC.

Keep it somewhere handy and enjoy adding to it all the time—when we start paying attention, it’s amazing how many things make us feel awesome every day.

2. Things that I am good at.

There’s almost certainly going to be some resistance when we sit down to write this list! We’re conditioned to focus on how we need to improve in areas that we’re not doing so well and work on making them better. Which is great—sometimes. If we’re in this space all the time, life becomes about hard work and struggling, which keep us limited and playing small, and that’s no fun at all!

Include anything on this list, big or small. Maybe you’re a great listener? A great boss? Able to pick up new skills quickly? Perhaps you make the best raw chocolate of anyone you know or give truly amazing hugs!

Knowing what we do well and acting on it by doing something that makes us feel “in our element” every day makes our self-esteem and self-worth soar, which will keep us aiming bigger and better in 2015 and beyond.

3. Things I do that move me closer to my dreams.

When we’re working toward goals, whether they’re health, career, lifestyle or relationship related, we’re always focusing on what’s next. This makes it all too easy to forget or discount what we have done to get us where we are!

Taking time to look at what we do each day or week that moves us in the direction of our dreams creates an energy of success and accomplishment. This then carries over to those things we’re working toward—meaning we succeed faster, with more ease.

Making an effort to regularly write this list also makes us feel more capable and competent and gives us the confidence to chase those big, beautiful, (and scary!), soul driven dreams.

4. Things that really matter to me.

Your family and loved ones? Feeling safe and loved? Treating everyone you meet with compassion and kindness? Doing work you love? Nutting out what we really, truly value is a great exercise because it sets us onto a fulfilling path and acts as the ultimate perspective smack down.

Focusing our energy on what really matters helps us become happier and more peaceful versions of ourselves because we’re working toward what we deeply care about—no energy wasted on internal struggles here!

Revisiting this list whenever we’re feeling overwhelmed or hard done by is great reminder that wishing for that handbag or hating our love handles is a waste of our energy because at the end of the day, that stuff doesn’t really matter.

With these lists in hand, we’re in a space to plan and dream for 2015 from our heart. By focusing on our strengths, consistently moving forward, and most importantly, doing what we love, we cultivate a deep sense of fulfillment and peace. Look out, 2015!

Happy writing, and Happy New Year!

 

 

 

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Author: Amelia Harvey

Editor: Emily Bartran

Photo: Sara Meier/Flickr