keep your dreams alive

I have one or two clients at the moment who have lived through really hard times this year. Financial problems, relationship breakdown ...... really its not been a good year.

They both remain optimistic in very different ways because they both have dreams. One is and has been clear about how they want their life to be, ever since they first came into coaching, and despite all the setbacks they have kept their dreams alive.

The other lost sight of any dreams for a while but kept in touch with me with messages that soon they'd be coming back to coaching to kick start the next chapter of their life. Their dream for now is just to live quietly and at peace so that they can rediscover their passion, their ambition, their awareness that they can have the life they'd really like. They know that possibly not today or even this week but one step at a time; if we keep our dream alive, we are on our way.

Are you heading in the right direction ?

Another way of thinking about making a fresh start in the new year is to imagine an ulitimate goal but for the time being plan to just head in that direction. This might work when your energy is low and you feel that setting up a big goal and detailed action plan is just too much; its so daunting you don't even get started.

But if you can keep yourself heading in the right direction, making tiny changes or taking action in new ways but in tiny steps you will build up momentum. Then when your energy levels are higher and you have reconected with some self belief it may feel like the right time to take a bigger step or challenge yourself to reach a bigger goal.

You can set off on a long journey by motorway with a map marked to show the places you'll stop for coffee or petrol, or an overnight rest ..... or you can set off along the smaller roads, checking that you're heading in the right direction when you stop for a break or a walk or to take a photograph. The first way is probably the quickest and most economical but if you hate driving on motorways it will also be the most stressfull !

So ask yourself today, am I heading in the right direction? If the answer is yes, that's great, if not, can you make that turn towards the direction you want to travel right now ?

Its that time of the year again;what are you going to take up ?

Yes, its that time of the year again when coaches get phone calls from local newspapers and radio stations asking for helpful hints about new year's resolutions.

First let me say you can make a fresh start in any area of your life at any time. If you have a resolution in mind ..... why not start right now ? No really .... why not start right now ?

Secondly, giving things up can seem negative and backward looking so to make a fresh start think positive and think future. To give up chocolate ( hard to imagine I know) sounds horrible but to take up eating just one piece of lovely well chosen chocolate per day sounds attractive and possible.

For now that's the helpful hint ... think positive.

What are you going to take up in 2010?