Vision and goal setting jars really work: set those intentions!

Comb through the internet and you'll see lots of folks setting intentions for this New Year.  New diets and new ways to exercise are just some of the goals to elicit change in our lives.  I remember reading about how some people were writing down their dreams/visions/goals on pieces of paper and then tucking them away into a jar, never to look back until the following year to reflect on what came to fruition.

What the heck, I thought.  Let me try this with my boys.  And that we did.

Wow, what a year.  As a result of this "jar" activity, I haven't been writing on my "Mindful Beginnings®" blog.  I've learned that I  must be careful what I wish for, because it may very well come true!

And here's my story....

It started when I asked my kids to write down their goals.  Of course, I joined them.  We wrote them on tiny pieces of paper, then rolled them up and placed them into the "coveted" jar.  This jar didn't have a name, like the photo pictured above that highlights the word, "dreams".  Ours was an old "Ball" jar, and the paper didn't have any yarn wrapped around each one.  We simply wanted to get the job done (and this is the story of my life with boys; sometimes it doesn't look like the Pinterest version of things, but the point has been to do it in a style that suits us).

We halfheartedly put them in, kind of forgetting that we even participated in this activity.

Fast forward to one year later.  Christmas night I brought out the jar.  One of my written goals included how I wanted a job where I was working "part or full-time, supervising staff and making a difference in the world; a job where I'd earn xxxxxx amount of money...or more".

This is exactly what I got.  Since April 2015, I've been working at a large University, feeling like I'm channeling Mother Teresa in what I'm being asked to do.  Not only did I receive the salary that I had written on that tiny piece of paper, but I received the "or more" amount of salary 5 months later.   I haven't minded the absence of  blogging.  I don't know when I'll write next, but when I do, I promise it will be to update and share the magic of my journey, for I never know where it will take me.

Please write your goals down, then forget about them.  The universe has a way of working out and bringing to you exactly what you should receive.

Believe me, I know.

Happy New Year!

Lisa

She thought she could so she did

"She believed she could, so she did."


Who's ready to fly?  We all can, especially if we believe we can.  January is a time to take stock and believe in ourselves.  It's a time to believe that we can, just like the little train that could.

My hope for you in this new year is that you stretch yourself, literally and figuratively.  Be kind to yourself.  Be kind to those around you.  Go for a walk when your body tells you running is too much. Sip some tea and sense how the steam feels as it enters your mouth and you begin to swallow the savory, blended herbal concoction.  Say please.  Say thank you.  Say no thank you, because you know it will hurt those around you if you do offer a note of thanks.

Laugh.  Cry.  Take out a piece of paper and doodle.  Doodle some more.  Doodle until you believe that doodle can turn into a piece of art to be hung on your bathroom mirror.  Hang it up so that it represents the life inside you that's screaming to come out and have a chance to introduce itself to the world.

Fall.  Get up and start over, and then start over again.  Write down your dreams.  Put shaving creme on the kitchen floor and "skate" barefoot.  Fill your bathtub with water and color the water with food coloring.  Put floating candles and create your own oasis of crazy.

Take chances.

Take risks.

I've done all of the above activities and I can honestly say I'm the better for it.  They may feel like they hurt, but the secret is -none of them do.

Happy New Year to all, and to all a good day.... a good night.... and a good flight!

See you in the sky!

Lisa