Are you ready for 2019? I want you to have the very best year possible so I am going to give you some of the most valuable tips I give to my coaching clients. 

Let’s start by identifying where you might be in your life right now.  You’re probably in one of three situations.

1.  You’re on top of the world in your personal and professional life.  You feel fulfilled and can’t imagine anything better than what you have going on right now.
2. You feel like things in your life are “right” and yet you just can’t figure out how to pull it all together into creating more fulfillment.
3. You feel stuck, unmotivated, and hopeless about your future.

I’ll address each of these categories next, but first let me share with you the one thing that will substantially improve your life no matter which of these criteria describes your current situation… Gratitude!

Gratitude is defined as: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for, and to return kindness.

That seems easy enough to understand, but did you know that people who actively practice gratitude are generally more optimistic, and even healthier and wealthier?  It’s true!  People who practice gratitude are able to acknowledge the good things in their lives and see those things as being outside of themselves.  In other words, they realize that good things are happening that they have nothing to do with.

If you aren’t sure of how to begin being more grateful, let me help.  One of the very best ways is to begin to notice beauty in nature.  A perfect snowflake on your windshield as a miracle of creation and not the threat of an impending snowstorm.  The tulip that pushes through the earth in April, or the perfection of a field of wheat.  By taking the time to be aware of your natural surroundings, you are starting to cultivate gratitude.

Another way is to start a gratitude journal.  Every morning I write in my journal.  I always begin with the things that I am grateful for, even if some days it’s only the coffee in my cup and the warm sweater over my shoulders.  It’s truly amazing how noticing small things like hot water, a warm home, or even that you are alive another day, can begin to create an entirely different view of the world around you. 

Prayer and meditation are two more ways to practice gratitude.  Quieting your mind for a few minutes allows the positive thoughts to enter.  Try it.

Now that you know how to practice gratitude, how’s that going to help you prepare for 2019?  Let’s look at each of the categories I gave you above.

1.  If you are blissfully happy in your personal and professional life you are probably already practicing gratitude, but what about being a blessing to others?  Giving back when we’ve been blessed increases our health and wealth.  A fulfilled life is about human connections and not just the riches we acquire.  If this is the place that you are in, begin to find ways that you can give to those around you.  A smile, a hug, and thoughtful gestures are the best way to begin.
2. If there are so many promising things happening in your life, but you feel stuck and can’t figure out which path is the best, I encourage you to write down the goals for your future.  Is it freedom to travel, more friends, a new place to live, or developing a creative outlet?  Once you have written down your main objectives take a look at those promising happenings and put them into categories.  By doing this you will uncover a direction.  And if you still can’t decide, ask someone who knows you to look at the list.  Often times another pair of eyes is exactly what we need.
3. Finally, if you feel hopeless about your life, I encourage to find something in your life that is good.  It might only be that you are alive and able to use your imagination.  If you can imagine what you would like your future to be, your brain will see this as another reality and will look for ways to make it happen.  Sometimes, having someone to help you sort out those dreams can be the best thing that you can do for yourself.

Whatever your current situation, I hope that you see the joy and possibilities that 2019 can bring!

Happy New Year!