Happy New Year~
I hope you had a fun celebration to ring in 2014! I spent a couple of days near Yosemite with good friends and enjoyed relaxing and being in nature. Now that I’m home, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want in 2014, but the truth is, I haven’t actually made any resolutions. Though I know that I would like to take the time to reflect on what I want in the coming year, both personally and in my business, what I’ve been thinking about more is how to start the new year off in my power.
What does that mean?
To me it means choosing both my thoughts and my actions from a place of power, so I can feel like it is MY decision and not something I am resigned to, or because it is someone else’s expectation (yuck). It also means stepping up the self-observation and asking myself important questions:
Am I doing this because I really want it for ME or is it because I want to be: liked, respected, seen as a “good” person (or even a “cool” person! Seriously! Sometimes my inner teenager still comes out), and so on.
What is driving me to do what I do?
What is the difference between what is right for me, versus what I feel I should do?
I often remind my friends and clients that when we feel we should do something, we need to dig a little deeper. For me, I find that when I feel I should do something, versus I want to do something, there is fear around a certain outcome. “I SHOULD do this, because if I don’t, x, y or z terrible thing might happen!”
This totally takes me out of my own power because I am choosing based on an imagined outcome, which more often than not, is some very creative worst case scenario. It’s as if I could make a bad decision that would ruin my life FOREVER! Sometimes I take myself and my thoughts a little too seriously. Sound familiar at all?
Here are the questions I am asking myself and the same questions I would pose to you:
What do I really want, without taking into consideration other people’s opinions or expectations of me?
What would make me feel like I am in the most authentic expression of my own desires and power?
And then finally:
What are the thoughts and actions that will help me create what I really want?
I find that it’s also helpful to find some kind of accountability buddy to hold me to what I really want. For me, it’s my friends and the women in my incredible entrepreneurs group, and of course my coaches and mentors. Who is there for you that can help you stay accountable to what you want?
As always, I love hearing your thoughts and would love to know your plans for starting off 2014 in your greatest power and most authentic self-expression.
xoxo,
Emily
p.s. If you’d like to have a conversation with me about how to start off 2014 in your power, I’ve got a few slots open on my calendar next week for a complimentary 30 minute session with me. In this session, we’ll identify what is holding you back from really having what you want in your career or business, and what the next best step is for you. If you want 2014 to be YOUR year, I’d love to support you in your journey. Let me know you’re interested by filling out this short survey and I’ll get back to you right away.