How Do Your Choices Serve You?

How do your choices serve you?

As we begin 2017, we are plagued with the yearly questions – What are our resolutions? What are our goals? What do we want to change? I bet you’ve received countless emails about this! Inevitably, we often fail at these changes in just a few weeks or the first couple months of the year. We want the quick fix – How do I lose 20lbs in 30 days? Or, How do I make more money? When this doesn’t happen, we throw up our arms, say we tried, then give up for the remaining 10 months of the year. Which leads us to saying how much X year sucked and we’re ready to move on. And, then we repeat this year after year. Does this sound familiar?

The funny thing is – we often don’t ask the right questions. Instead, ask – What type of life do I want to have? Then, ask – how can I lead my life to get there? LEAD – is an important word here. LEAD is where you take ownership of your choices and decisions to get there. The ultimate person leading your life is you. No one else. It’s your choice what attitude you have. It’s your choice if you’re distracted. It’s your choice how you react to situations. For this year – will you take ownership of your choices?

In leading your life, will you acknowledge where you excel? And, where you slip up? Its about being honest with yourself. For example, if we want to lose 10lbs but think weight will just melt off us without the work, we are just kidding ourselves and setting yourself up for failure. Instead, think about what choices got me to the point where I want to change? What did I learn from this? How can I make better choices in 2017?

Here’s an exercise how to make better choices and create a theme for 2017:

Find a quiet place free from distractions

Sit comfortably

Close your eyes

Let go of any tension that you feel in your body.

Take 3 deep breaths so that your entire abdomen expands.

Then, ask yourself the following two questions, (pause between each question to allow your intuition to speak to you.)

What 3 words define who I want to be in 2017? (examples include: bold, authentic, caring, loving, enthusiastic, etc.)
What do I want my 2017 year end headline to read?

Next, put the 3 words you selected in a place you will see them everyday. (Perhaps, a sticky note on your mirror or in your phone as a daily reminder.) Let these words guide your choices for 2017. For every choice you make, identify on you use these words to honor yourself and those around you.

What courageous choices will you make this year?

Wishing you a prosperous, abundant, and joyful 2017!