A Clean Slate
This is a follow up to my previous newsletter… ‘Creating Space’.
This idea of cleaning our slate is one that I usually suggest doing later in the year. But I have found that starting this process in October is more effective for both myself and my clients.
The idea is to go into the New Year owning everything on your to-do list. As well as owning your bigger goals that you may or may not include for the new year.
When I say “owning” your to-do lists and goals, I mean…taking full responsibility for what you are putting your energy behind.
If you thought of energy as currency…hard earned cash…what would you invest it in? Because you get to decide how, where, and what you will invest your energy in.
So this process begins with writing down (not in your head) everything you have to do. Your ‘ultimate to-do list’, so to speak. This includes bills, work assignments, agreements with others, your personal goals, appointments, holiday gifts…everything. I like to give myself at least 3 days to make up this list. Little things pop into my head when I’m driving or in the shower so I keep adding to my list as these things come up. So, for the next few days, jot things down as they come to you and do not discriminate. Big or small, put them all on paper.
When you think your list is finally complete, set aside a few uninterrupted hours to actually study at your list.
Circle the doable items that will give you a great sense of relief knowing that they are finally DONE. In other words, by actually completing these things, you will be entering the New Year “mentally” clutter free as well as opening up the time to start new things.
Then, cross off or politely bow out of the things you agreed to do for other people that no longer serve you.. These are things that simply won’t get done or will hold you back from the more important tasks on your list. Again, politely bow out of what you had initially agreed to doing ideally in the next 24 hours.
Then, look at the “big goals” that you did not accomplish.
Because, to truly clear the slate, you may choose to eliminate some goals all together.
So look at the goals that are currently not happening.
Why didn’t you accomplish them? Is it possible that they no longer serve you? Sometimes letting something go is more empowering than hanging onto it for dear life. Goals and dreams actually do have expiration dates. Put on your truth lenses and ask yourself if this is still worthy of your time and effort. Ask yourself why you set this goal in the first place and more importantly, do you still feel the same way about it now? This step of letting go may feel painful or sad, but there is great power in being honest with yourself. Honoring where you are NOW will ultimately help you to make better decisions as to where you want to go in the future.
How do you know if it’s time to let it go?
Is it taking too long? Is the pain outweighing the joy? Are you getting nowhere? Are you hanging onto it because you are afraid of what other people will say if you decide to “give up” on it? Is there something else nagging away at you? Could you actually try something different or new and still fulfill the desire that the original goal was meant to achieve?
Sit with this awhile. These are not easy questions to ask…even harder to answer with honesty and self compassion. But they are worth asking and answering.
You may decide to let it go. You may shed a tear or two. But then, you can allow yourself to open up to other possibilities you were too preoccupied to see.
Or, you may decide, “Absolutely NO! I’m not letting it go.” And in that realization you will discover more clarity as to WHY you must keep this on your list of goals and desires.
The point is to be honest with yourself. And compassionate.
Now…what can you do before the end of this year to both clear your to-do list and move your goals forward?
Write out a new list of what will be done THIS year. Schedule when and where in your calendar and start taking action today. I suggest setting an aggressive course of action now which will allow you to have more time to enjoy the holidays when they arrive.
The idea is to start 2019 with a CLEAN SLATE. Not a slate with stale leftovers from last year. Ideally the only goals being invited into the New Year are your passion projects that you have revisited and have even more clarity on. All the other stuff should be completed or at the very least, completed as much a possible before the New Year begins.
So…write it ALL out. Decide what shall be done, what shall be let go of for good, and what shall be reinforced and invited into the New Year.
And, stay tuned. I have a “Getting Our Shit Done” challenge coming up in the next few weeks. I suggest you get a jump on it and start clearing your slate now!
Go getter’ done!
And if you want some extra “kick butt mojo”, get in touch and we’ll tackle it together.