Here we go – the New Year will be upon us in about 15 hours. We always make such a big deal about the New Year. You’ve probably read or come across, as I have, many articles or news bits on Top 10 lists, drinking and driving, making resolutions, party lists (most of them ridiculously expensive) and more.
When I thought about writing today, I thought that I’d give some thoughts on how to bring your sensual BAD KITTY self into the New Year. But, you know what, this is an arbitrary day. Other cultures don’t even have the same New Year as we do. The Chinese New Year is late January or early February. Pagans celebrate spring as the New Year – which actually makes much more sense than the middle of a cold, snowy winter. So why should January 1 be so special?
I’ve never been one to make resolutions. I watch others around me make resolutions every year and see them make the same one the following year because the resolve died in the first few weeks of the year. How many of you have made or have seen someone make that resolution to “lose 20-30-50-100 pounds this year” and in June they are unwilling to put on a bathing suit because they are still carrying the weight? And, they did the same thing for the last 5 years. On top of that, the number of pounds to lose has probably increased each year.
I’m not against setting goals or intentions, not by a long shot. But this setting a big goal – or resolution – just because it’s the start of the year with no plan for actually making it work thinking that this time it’s going to work because, well, it just has to, doesn’t work!
My thought for the New Year is GO EASY ON YOURSELF! Leave the resolution hype to others, refuse to get caught up in it. Instead, sit down soberly and make realistic goals. Put a timeline on it and then set smaller goals every week towards it. Find a partner or friend who you can check in with to be accountable to for your weekly small goals. Give yourself some sort of consequence if you don’t do your smaller goals.
For example, my big goal for 2009 is to finish my book – THE BAD KITTY HANDBOOK.
Timeline: to finish it by the end of July 2009
Smaller Goals: will change slightly from week to week, but one firm one that I have already been doing for a couple of months is to write for one hour twice a week. As I get closer to completion things like looking for editors, having readings, looking for publishers, etc, will start to come into the weekly goals.
Partner: I have a partner who I speak to every Monday at 9am. We go over our goals for the week and our successes for the past week. Always remember to celebrate your successes!
Consequence: My partner and I have an agreement that if we don’t finish our goals for the week we will pay the other $50. It’s amazing how motivating that is!
The key to any goal is taking steps. I’ve had the idea for my book for almost 2 years. I did some chipping away at it now and then, which honestly was very sporadic. I was waiting for inspiration. It wasn’t until I made a definite commitment to work on it regularly that things started to come together. I suddenly had a structure, a great title, the opportunity to work with a published author who is currently working on a new project and another woman who is working on a book and is about to start looking for publishers.
Firm steps create amazing opportunities!
I encourage all my BAD KITTIES to be bold in making goals all year long. Be sure they are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely/Tangible goals. Go to this site for more information on SMART goals.
You can all do great things. All you need to do is take the first steps!
I’d love to hear from you all as to what goals you are working toward this year. Feel free to email me at christie@beingsensual.com to share. You are allowed to revise, add or subtract goals anytime. Feel free to share about that as well. It’s liberating to know that if something isn’t working, you can correct and continue. No guilt. We give ourselves enough of that!
Remember to show your JOY POWER – no guilt. Be true to your deepest inner self when you make goals so that you can continue to BE BEAUTIFUL, BE YOU.
Love you all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!