To Have an Absolutely Fabulous 2010 - Get Complete with 2009

When you try to create new momentum in your life and you’re carrying that load of heavy baggage from the past, it’s nearly impossible to launch yourself forward. So, as the year turns, do yourself a favor – let go of the old baggage.

Here are some steps you can take to launch yourself powerfully into 2010, without dragging old unfinished business from 2009 along:

Stop putting up with the little things that drive you crazy

Create a list of things you’ve been tolerating and start eliminating them. This doesn’t need to feel overwhelming, just take one thing at a time. Examples might be clutter in your house, unfinished projects or things you’ve been meaning to get to and haven’t.

Consider hiring someone to help (there are a lot of clutter-clearing specialists out there).  Or, if funds are tight, trade time and projects with a friend or two. You can enjoy the time working on your projects as shared time with friends.

You should also check your toleration list for things that are “good intentions” that really aren’t priorities - like the boxes you’ve been storing since your last move, or the clothes you were going to mend that don’t fit anymore. If you haven’t seen/used/needed it in the past 2 or 3 years, most likely you aren’t going to miss it.

If  you have things on that list that are there because you find it hard to say ‘no’ to people, choose one or two that are really impractical for you to do and have a frank conversation with the person you feel obligated to. Chances are they won’t “hate you for life” just because you can’t realistically tackle that thing you promised to do.

Stop feeling bad about people and clean up your relationships.

What isn’t right between you and someone else in your life? Most of us have some incomplete communications with people in our lives.  A sure way to know this is true for you is if you feel badly when you think about them, have regrets, or hope you won’t “bump into them,” as you are out running holiday errands.

What would you need to say or do to be complete with the past in these relationships?  Sometimes it may not even involve connecting with the other person.  Perhaps you can simply decide to forgive, and reach out to them as if nothing ever happened.  Take the time to write a letter, send a card, or make a telephone call.  Free up the trapped energy so you can put it to better use in 2010.

To get anywhere, you have to know where you are.

Many of us don’t formally set goals (There is clear evidence that people who do are more likely to achieve them – stay tuned for my article on how to create and use powerful goals to move your forward) but most of us at least have intentions for the year.  In 2009, did you hope to lose weight, make more money, find the love of your life? Whether you wrote goals, or simply had a vague sense of what you hoped would happen, getting clear on what you’d intended, what actually happened, and where you are now can open up the space for you to move powerfully forward on your goals for 2010.

So, write it all down.  What had you hoped?  What did you do?  And, most importantly, where are you now?  The more honest you are with yourself about the truth of the moment, and the more you allow the past to be whatever it has been, the more you’ll launch yourself into a new kind of momentum for the new year.

Where you are is exactly where you’re supposed to be!

If you believe that because last year was a particular way, it means something about this year, you get to be right.  However, you get to choose your beliefs.  What interpretation can you have about last year that leaves you feeling good, and empowered to make the new year YOUR year?  You can choose to think that everything that happened was absolutely perfect, because it brought you to where you are - ready to launch into the best year you’ve ever had.  After all, your beliefs are yours to choose – so choose powerfully!