As the excitement and buzz die down from the New Year’s Eve parties, we are left standing with one foot in 2011 and one foot in 2012.
What’s next?
What does 2012 hold?
What do I want to accomplish over the next year?
Why does is matter?
Do I really need to care about it?
You may be asking yourself one, all or none of these questions. I would venture to guess, though, that you, like most people, are at least considering some thoughts as you step forward into the New Year.
Of course, I’m the same way. I ask the questions, consider my options and ultimately decide on choices that make sense for me. This year, like last year, I’ve decided on a theme to how I want to live out my life over the next year. (**Insert crazy and loud drum roll**)
INTENTION
This year I am choosing the theme of intention. Within this theme, I will focus on 3 main principles.
- Forgiveness
- Gratitude
- Love
It is my intention to have every action be based in forgiveness, gratitude and/or love. I know that each leads to the next and to step forward the way I would like, I am choosing to be very intentional about how I live my life.
This hasn’t been a quick decision. In fact, I’ve spent a bit of time determining the theme along with the words that I’m basing my actions in. I choose them because I feel they each hold a very significant piece to our life here on Mother Earth.
Forgiveness
I firmly believe that forgiveness is our highest lesson to learn and embrace. It’s easy to have gratitude and love others when there are no stones being thrown. I don’t believe we are here to live easily, though. I believe we are here to learn and embrace great lessons and that we are given new, different and changing circumstances in order to have more learning experiences. With this is mind, we all have people that we can and need to offer our forgiveness. Sometimes the most important person we need to forgive is ourself.
As others hurt us, it’s easy to hold tightly to that hurt feeling and not want to forgive. We might feel like we have given up. We might feel defeated or we might feel like we have simply let them walk all over us. I encourage your to explore forgiveness. I believe we are all connected and I am going to choose to receive the lessons and offer my forgiveness to those that may hurt me. In doing so, I’m really offering my love to myself (as well as those around me). I see it as a choice to “be the change” instead of live in the pain.
Gratitude
I believe that gratitude is our highest vibration, or highest form of energy. When I am living from a state of gratitude, I’m choosing to focus on the good I have in my life along with what I know is on it’s way. I once heard that it is easy to be in gratitude for what you have already, but it takes a master to be in gratitude for what’s to come, what you can’t yet see. This is why I am choosing this as one of my actions. I firmly believe and KNOW that as I am more grateful, I am given more to be grateful for. By intentionally living in gratitude I am living in a space that opens me up to receiving opportunities, gifts, insights, etc. In doing so, I open myself up to living a fully filled life while enjoying the many blessings along the way.
Love
I once thought the song “All You Need Is Love” was lame. Now, I know that love is our ultimate and highest calling. Love with a service to others is why we are here. We aren’t brought into this world to see how much money we can make, to climb the most ladders, to wear the best clothes (although, that’s fun, too!). Instead, we are brought into this world as an expression of love and for love.
As I step further into forgiveness and gratitude, love is an automatic result. As my heart has softened and opened up, especially this past year, I’ve found myself more compassionate and loving of those around me. Love is our natural state. We are born into love and love is easy for us. Sometimes we get tricked into believing that it is hard when really, all that has happened is that we’ve allowed ourselves to get caught up in the material frenzy that society teaches us we need to participate in. When we step back and actually SEE people, we reconnect with the fact that we ARE ALL people and as beings, we desire to know that we are loved and accepted. We want to know that we matter.
With intentional action, I am choosing to view others with love and in love because in the end, you are all my brothers and sisters. As a direct reflection of myself, I choose to love you as I love myself.
Moving forward…
What does this mean as I step bravely and boldly into the New Year? I’m not sure. What I do know is that by living with intention and focusing my actions on forgiveness, gratitude and love, I’ll be spreading the message that I can be proud to spread. I don’t know how this year will unfold and I know that I don’t need to know. All that I need to do is commit to living my life and business intentionally while serving others and the rest will unfold exactly as it needs to.
I’m excited, blessed and grateful to be on this journey with you. Thank you for being here with me. Cheers to 2012!
I’d love to know how you started your New Year. Did you commit to resolutions? Create a vision board? What do you choose for 2012? Please share!
