At The Turning Of The Year... > Post > Blog

At The Turning Of The Year...

Sunday 18th December 2011 | 4 comments

Christmas This week I want to say a heartfelt 'thank you' for your interest and support over this year. I love the emails I get, your online comments and the kind words from people I bump into who I didn't even know were readers of the blog. It means a lot to me.

I'm off to Burma later this week, and this blog will be back in mid-January.

Following on from last week's 'take a break' theme, here are some questions for you to think about at the turning of the year. You can tackle all of these, or just pick a couple that speak to you. Write about them, think, discuss with someone - or just keep them bubbling away on the back burner while you enjoy your break.

Rainer Maria Rilke said 'Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it, you will live along some distant day into your answers'. I like that.

About 2011

What did I achieve in 2011?
What did I learn? How am I stronger / better / happier?
What activities put me into flow? When did I get so caught up doing something that I lost track of time? How can I have more of those activities?
What will I do differently next year? What will I leave behind? What will I carry with me into 2012?
What risks did I not take this year? Where did I play small?
Where did I let limiting beliefs or damaging self talk hold me back?
What did I do that was useful in the world, or in my community or family?
What will I remember about 2011?

About 2012

What do I want more of in 2012? What do I want less of?
If there were no obstacles (time, money, skills, confidence) what would I change? If I had all the support I needed, what would I change?
What conversation with myself am I avoiding?
Am I holding onto something I need to let go of?
What's something that I know I do differently than most people? How can I let that shine?
What would I do differently if I knew nobody would judge me?
How would I write down my dream? How would I paint it? Sing it? Dance it?
What would need to change for me to live a truly satisfying life?
If life was an experiment, how would it change?
If I knew the answer, what would it be?
How can I live through my top three values? How can I use them every day?
If I had a superpower, which one would it be? Why?
What do I really want? And what do I really really want? And what is under that - what do I really really really want?

Here's to a happy and successful 2012!

Comments

Thank you Joanna. It's truly powerful to be able to make these choices.
Posted by Pamela Jordan | Wednesday 21st December 2011 @ 8:48am
Thanks Pamela, enjoy the questions and enjoy your break.
Posted by Joanna | Wednesday 21st December 2011 @ 8:55am
Hi Joanna, Happy New year to you and have a wonderful trip in Burma. My hearftelt thanks to you and your blogs esp this latest one! I usually do a retreat over Christmas and New Year where I get the chance to review my year and plan for the upcoming one. This year I'm in Melbourne with family and I am very excited to be given a format by you to do my end of year contemplations. I might even get the whole family involved! See you in 2012.
Best Lotte
Posted by lotte waters | Wednesday 21st December 2011 @ 10:11am
Lotte, I love the idea of using the questions with family (though it depends on your family, of course!). Let me know how it goes...
Posted by Joanna | Wednesday 21st December 2011 @ 11:59am

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