This week is my time for reflection and visioning in preparation for creating my 2018 Vision Board. Part One of the process for establishing a vision and some goals for 2018 is to first reflect on 2017. Part Two of the process entails completing a personal inventory of my resources, and completing a “big picture” exercise before I set my 2018 goals. When I started to review my year and remit my Vision Board for 2018, I realized with great satisfaction that I have accomplished EVERYTHING on my board. That is truly cause for celebration. Following is the whole process I go through to arrive at what I will put on my board in 2018.

Part One: Reflection, Completion and Celebration

Starting the whole process by acknowledging and celebrating the year that “was” allows me to recap and reflect as well as celebrate. I fly over the year from a hawk’s perspective, and complete a month by month fact-finding inventory of events, milestones, travel, highlights and low lights from January to December. This encourages me to remember and as I do, I write it all down. No judgement allowed - just the facts. I also record my thoughts and feelings.

Next, I dig a little deeper and uncover the “subtext” or meaning and learnings from last year’s activities and actions. This portion of the process is important to help my reflection on the year.

Here are some of the questions I ask myself; they might help you discover what can be learned from the year that “was”:

When you review your “recap” of last year, what thoughts immediately come to mind?
What did you learn last year?
What stood out as “wins” to celebrate? (Big or small)
How did you contribute in 2017?
What new experiences did you have?
What people are you happy to have met or reconnected with?
What gave you joy, made you laugh, or contributed to feelings of contentment?
What surprised you?
What or who consistently brought you positive energy in 2017?
What do you most want to remember about the past year?
What still feels unfinished from last year?
What habits or patterns do you want to eliminate in 2018?
What will you forgive yourself for? For what will you forgive others?
What are you willing to let go?
What are you grateful for?
What new thoughts, skills, attitudes, patterns or ways of being will you continue to build upon in 2018?
What did you start in 2017 that you want to build on in 2018?
What do you need to change or learn to do better?
What primary “words of wisdom” will you speak over yourself as you contemplate the year to come?
How would you word a “toast” to yourself as you ring out the old year and ring in the new?

Part Two - Visioning

First things first. Take a moment and take stock. Identify the supports that will enrich, guide and help you live the life you want in 2018.

Internal Supports:

What are your personal qualities and strengths?
What are your mental, emotional and spiritual supports?
What beliefs do you hold that will support you in 2018?

External Supports:

Friends
Family
Communities
Environments
Activites that feed you

Big Picture Thinking

Next, take out a blank sheet of paper. Put a back dot in the middle of the page. That represents your current life as it is RIGHT NOW. Ask yourself, “if anything were possible in the next 5-10 years, without limitation, what do I want in and from my life”? Take 5-10 mins to wildly draw pictures and write words, ideas, themes, in the white space outside the dot.

2018 Themes

Now focus on 2018 and pick out 1-3 themes you want to undergird the entire year. Your themes, or “messages to self”, will underscore all your activities. For the entire year. By keeping your themes present on a daily basis, you will add energy to them and stay focussed on what is most important to you regarding your life.

Type out your themes so you can put them on your 2018 Vision Board.

2018 Images and Phrases

If anything were possible this year of your life, what does the picture look like now? Imagine it in the present tense as if it were happening right now. Make sure that your vision makes your heart happy and makes you absolutely glow with positivity. Align your vision with who you really are, with your core values. Then, ask yourself these questions:

Is my vision like like a super strong magnet that draws me forward?
Is my vision a bit of a stretch? Does it inspire me to push beyond my current limits?
Is this MY vision for me and not someone else’ vision for me?

Include pictures of what you want in your life this coming year. Choose images and words or phrases that represent how you are thinking and feeling. Yes, think in the present tense, not in future tense. Include thoughts or pictures of your physical and spiritual self, your relationships, environments, business and personal pursuits, finances, contributions, community and legacy.

Creating 2018 Coaching Goals

What are your most important career, career training, or business goals for 2018?
What are your most important personal goals for 2018?

To keep track in 2018, I recommend that you figure out what is non-negotiable for you in 2018 and what could get in the way of you achieving your vision. I also recommend that you enlist an accountability partner that will assist you to create strategies to achieve your goals. If not a professional coach, enlist a trusted friend or colleague to fill the role.

If you want to explore whether or not you want to add me to your personal resources, call me at 250-667-1752.

Workshops are held at 38 Victoria Crecent, Nanaimo in the lower Board Room at S.O.U.P. Co-Work.