December: Running Toward 2015
Rabbit, rabbit. OK, that’s taken care of. (It’s a wish for good luck for the whole month. You can read more about this English custom at Yankee magazine.)
2014 is heading toward the end of its run and into a new year. Now is a good time to start thinking of a new word for 2015. Don’t share yet–there will be a blog later in the month with a random giveaway, in which we talk about words and choices.
You can, however, post your old word (someone might want it for next year), and mention how the word worked for you. Good, bad, or indifferent, keeping that word in front of you is an excellent way to steer your life.
Maybe you changed your word, like I did. The first one (scatter) wore me out
and the next, a metaphorical opposite (distill) served me in many ways. It still is serving me, and I’m glad I changed.
Whether you are a writer, an artist, own your business, are independently wealthy, it’s good to ask yourself a few questions before you start next year. A few questions will help you decide where to spend your energy well, and unless you are too young to read, or you are a kitten, your energy is limited.
What’s the most surprising thing you found out about yourself this year? When did it happen? What surprised you?
What do you want to change about yourself in 2015? Even if your plans are to change the world, the best place to start is with yourself. You’ll probably need some tools and protective gear for big changes.
What steps will make that change happen? No good engineer works without a plan. No good artist does, either.
How do you plan on putting those steps into action? A plan without a deadline is a daydream. What are some milestones and what are realistic time periods?
Who will be your support in making change? We don’t live in a world alone. Your change will ripple out and find support and criticism.
If you plan on taking on more of something (more work, another child, helping a parent), what will you give up to make room for this change in your life? This is an important part of taking on something new. Your time won’t magically expand, so it’s good to think about what you will let go.
—Quinn McDonald is a creativity coach who gets very busy at this time of year.
Filed under: Coaching, In My Life, Inner Hero/Inner Critic Tagged: life coach, moving into 2015, planning ahead, Word of the Year
