It's hard to believe that another year is coming to a close.  

Before stepping fully into the new year, it's helpful to pause to take a look back over the current year and look ahead to the coming year.

So this year, I'm starting a new ritual:  taking the last 2 days of this year and the first 2 days of next year to perform a "soft reset" - a kind of master reboot to restore life balance, recharge my energy, and realign with what matters most.

Starting this morning, I am prioritizing my own self-care - listening to my body for what it needs - nourishing my mind - body - and spirit.  Here is the process I've created for my new end of year ritual: 

1. Celebrate and appreciate your accomplishments:  the year can really fly by and it's easy to lose track of all that happened.  Ask yourself the question, "What did I do well?"  Making a list can show you just how much you achieved.  Having a hard time thinking of anything?  Go back through your calendar if you need a few reminders.  Take time to really appreciate what you accomplished.
2. Acknowledge your strengths and areas of growth:  so often we focus on the ways in which we fall short without attention to our innate gifts and how we might leverage them.   There is value in both identifying our natural talents that lead to a state of flow - time flies by and we are fully living our why - and giving ourselves credit when we stretch just beyond our comfort zone. 
3. Assess the impact of your work in the world:  now before you say, what kind of impact could I have on the world, think about the ways in which you make a difference in your family, within your friendship circle, at your job, in your community, etc.  As Mother Teresa said, "not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love."
4. Capture your lessons learned:  the moments that cause us the greatest pain are often filled with valuable life lessons.  These challenging times tend to be opportunities for growth, if we can see them for what they are.  Positively re-framing these difficult situations can stimulate the development of new skills that will serve you well as you continue on your life's journey.
5. Set your intention for the new year:  what do I want to create in the world in the new year?  This is the first question to ask to begin to plant the seeds for what you'd like to manifest.  One resource to help set powerful intentions is an article written by Dr. Deepak Chopra, author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success (a great read by the way).  To learn more about the process of setting intentions, check out the article,  http://bit.ly/1wohUzf. 
6. Decide on your theme for the year:  A few years ago, my coach introduced me to the concept of the word of the year.  Instead of setting resolutions that are generally forgotten by the end of January, this word serves as a central theme to guide your decisions as you move through the year.  Be advised that you may find an increased number of opportunities that seem to be the opposite of what you've asked for.  Remember that these are opportunities to practice.  Last year my word was "space".  I wanted to create more of it in my life - in my schedule, in my mind, and in my physical environment.  It turned out to be one of the busiest years ever, emphasizing how important space really was to me and giving me lots of practice of creating new habits to manifest the space I desired.
7. Create your vision end of year 2015:  Yes, I did mean to write 2015 - that's not a typo.  Fast forward to this time next year.  2015 is drawing to a close and you're reflecting on the year you've had.  What do you see?  Spending some time visualizing your accomplishments can help you gain greater clarity as you enter the new year.  Your vision is your core purpose.  It's the way in which you can uniquely change the world...or at least the corner of the garden you've been charged with tending.  I suggest letting your heart lead this process rather than your head.  Don't over-think it.  Create space to simply sit with the question and see what naturally arises.  

So this is my plan and yet I'm allowing for lots of flexibility, knowing that things don't always go according to plan.  Be gentle with yourself and honor where you are, wherever that happens to be in the moment.  What I'm hoping to gain from this process is a greater recognition and acknowledgement of my personal growth, the discovery of key insights that will serve me in now and in the future, and using the wisdom gleaned from this process to inform my actions in the coming year.

How about you?  Do you have a ritual that you use to close out or start a new year?  I'd love to hear about.  Please share in the comments below.

Summer is here - a time of vacations and a slower pace of life.  It's so easy to be present on vacation.  Time pressures are relaxed, schedules are more flexible, and there is less sleep deprivation.

While vacationing in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, I was enjoying a brisk walk a block of the shore.  The sky was a brilliant blue, soft white clouds were slowly drifting by, and the breeze was cool and comfortable.

I was appreciating my walk outdoors, catching glimpses of the ocean between houses.  Suddenly, I was caught in sun shower.  I felt a sense of immediate dread and a bit of panic.

What was happening?  I wondered why I had gone from feeling calm and peaceful to being gripped with fear in a matter of moments.  I didn't care if I got wet...the rain actually felt cool against my skin.  

My eyes darted around quickly scanning the area for a temporary shelter.  I urged my partner to walk faster so we could get out of the rain.  As she lovingly and firmly grasped my hand she reassured me that all was well.

"All is well."  I knew that to be true and a bit of the anxiety eased.  With, curiosity, I explored what had just happened.

The rain was falling hard enough that between the water and the humidity, I couldn't see through my glasses.  And, I couldn't see without them (I'm legally blind without corrective lenses).  

I was in an unfamiliar environment and without my sense of sight, the sense I rely on most heavily, I felt vulnerable...unsafe.

That recognition allowed me to be gentle and kind to myself as I navigated what felt like a big challenge.  

The rain passed soon enough and my heart returned to it's previous rate.  What did I learn from this experience?

1.  The fear and anxiety that gripped me so suddenly were not really due to a change in my external circumstances.  It was triggered by a series of thoughts about the changing conditions (the rain is here, I can't see, if I can't see I'm not safe).  I didn't need for the rain to stop to make me feel at ease.  I was reminded that we can change our experience simply by shifting our thoughts.  We can choose how to respond to life in each moment.

2.  I don't need to be in South Florida walking along the beach to appreciate a beautiful blue sky or other natural elements all around me.  Appreciation can occur wherever you are.  Find the beauty in daily life.

3.  An affirmation can provide a lifeline to hold onto as you find your way back to safety.  In this case - all is well - reminded me that I was really okay in this moment.  And while our mind may wander into the past or leap into the future, we can only ever be in the present moment.  Life is richer when are mind and body come together in the present so we can be here now.

Happy Independence Day! 

In addition to the cook-outs and fireworks celebrations, today is an opportunity to give thanks for the freedoms we have in this country and the men and women who keep us safe.  

This year, I'm also taking time to pause and think about my personal freedom.   The question that came up during this reflection time:  How free do I feel to be myself?

I thought about the times when I feel most comfortable in my own skin.  What allowed me to relax into who I am and show up as me - flaws and all?  What things blocked my authenticity or caused me to shrink?

After spending some time with these questions, here is what I learned:

1) Remember that you are human.  This may sound silly yet it is so easy to forget that we are only human.  The times when I shrink and play small are the times when I think I need to be perfect and am not measuring up to an impossible standard.  Reminding myself that I am human allows me to be kinder to myself and reset my expectations to something more realistic.

2)  You are different on purpose.  I grew up hearing people say, Michelle is different.  I spent the first thirty years of my life thinking that something was wrong me so I worked hard to be more like everyone else.  I now see the error in that way of thinking.  What makes me different is now embraced and celebrated.  What shifted?  I now see and appreciate the value of my own uniqueness.  I am the expert in my own experience and I get to share those gifts with the world.

3)  See the beauty in yourself.  So often we look in the mirror and automatically scan for what is wrong - hair out of place, unwelcome forehead pimple (don't you hate those), too many bulges in places that shouldn't bulge.  What if instead, you look until you see the beauty in your eyes, in your smile, in the gentle curves of your body that frames the inner strength that has brought you to where you are today.  Take a moment to really look into your own eyes, see the real you behind the veil, and say simply, I - love - you.

4)  You have the right to choose.  Fear of failing is one of the biggest obstacles to making choices that honor who we are.  Falling down is a part of the process.  The mis-steps we take sometimes shift the path we're on, leading us to incredible places we never could have predicted or imagined.  You always have a choice in how you respond to life.  If you don't like the results you're getting, you have the right to choose again - make a different choice.  Remember this when you're feeling stuck; you get to re-decide.  Knowing that you have choices gives you the freedom to try new things.  

5)  You are not alone and can ask for what you need.  I really get into trouble when I forget this basic fact.  Fear of being alone and feelings of isolation can impact the decisions we make.  Feeling alone is a mindset.  We often withdraw into an inner world, alone with our negative thoughts that convince us that no one cares and we don't matter.  But, this is simply not true.  The truth is at time we make a choice to be alone.  What's the antidote?  Reach out and ask for help and support.  I've learned that it is unfair to expect people to read my mind.  You may be really good at helping and supporting others.  How good are you at accepting help?  This takes practice.  Identify a circle of support.  Talk to friends and loved ones.  Find a coach, counselor, or mentor.   Practice, practice, practice asking for what you need and remember, you are not alone.

So today, I am celebrating feeling more free to be myself than at any other point in my life.  How about you?  What helps you feel free to be you?  Leave a comment below.