Write an autobiography of the past year

A mentor of mine suggests that writing an autobiography of the past year is a unique opportunity to use retrospection to gain knowledge into who you are.

Last year is fresh in your mind. He says this exercise creates your historical portrait. Your life's landscape opens before you. Write the story of YOU from January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006. Start with a chronological approach; include your transitions; think about 1) family and relationships 2) business and career 3) health and fitness 4) travel and education, 5) money and finance 6) creativity and spiritual growth.

Take great care....this is not a frivilous exercise. This is your life. Who you were in the past year is a reflection of the choices you made, the focus of your thoughts, the actions you took or did not take, the inward and outward growth you have experienced.

Write about all the things you did well in the past year - your accomplishments, advancements. This experience in achieving accomplishments and advancements is something you can give to others. Personal experience is very powerful. How can you share your experience with others?

Don't dwell on "loss" or "mistakes". Look at these experiences as gain. You actually gain something from loss and mistakes. Your mistakes are great teachers. You would not be the person you are today if you had not made mistakes and experienced loss in your life's journey. Those experiences are for the good because through them you came to greater insight and understanding of the world. Learn and let go.

Affirm all the good from the past year and turn toward the good that is appearing in your life in the present. Your good wants you as much as you want it. Think of yourself as a magnet attracting increased health, wealth, and love into your life. See yourself being a person you would admire. Look forward to your life becoming happier and your peace of mind greater.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. -- Aristotle

The climb you have made

As you look back on this past year you'll see that some have climbed and others have fallen.

Are you climbing the "ladder of success" at work? Are you climbing a rigorous spiritual mountain? Are you climbing out of an emotional abyss? Are you climbing a joyful, romantic mountain with a new love? Whether it be professional, personal, spiritual, or emotional...you are stronger for the climb you have made. Your spiritual muscles are strong and steady.

Whatever experiences you have had, whatever lessons the year has brought you, assess their value, release any mistakes, and pronounce the year GOOD. Even hard experiences help in your growth and strength, therefore they are good, too.

Think of the transitions you've passed through this year. You've grown older and you've watched others grow older. The aging transition is increasingly important to many. Or perhaps you attended a 10 or 20 year high school reunion and walked away reflecting not only on your transitions, but also the transitions of your peers. Or during the holidays, you looked around at your co-workers, your family members, your community and became aware of their transitions. Some have indeed climbed and some have fallen. Was your strength in reaching a helping hand to a climber below? All of this is good for reflection. See how these experiences have increased your tolerance and compassion.

How has this year's climb made you stronger?

Plant the Seed

Perhaps you're thinking about how 2007 will be for you financially, professionally, spiritually. Seeing yourself succeeding in these areas is very important. Have you developed your next step goals? Have they changed from last year? Are you in a transition?

Plant the Seed
Everything you are experiencing today is the result of seeds planted yesterday. What does that mean? Think of the "seeds" as thoughts and actions. The law of attraction tells us that what we give our attention to always comes back into our life and experience. If you have planted seeds of lack, want, drama, rejection...chances are that is what you are experiencing and will continue to experience. Plant seeds of hope, love, financial security, health...and that is what you are more likely to experience.

Plant Many Seeds
Any gardener knows that you must plant numerous seeds to get results. Some of the seeds won't take hold. Some will need extra care. Many will flourish and bring a rich harvest. The spiritual law says, "Imagine you have the return (harvest) in hand". This invokes both affirmation and demonstration. A wise person said, "Any good gardener does not only cultivate flowers - he cultivates SOIL. The thoughts which you are always sending out compose the soil of your life. " Be sure to project thoughts of prosperity to enrich your soil.

If you are looking for a job, you'll need to put out numerous resumes. Think of those resumes as 'seeds'. One of them will take hold. If you're looking for a house, you'll need to look at many. If you're wanting to meet new people, you'll want to go to a few new events. Know that one of these activites will take hold. Hold that result in your mind, claim the expected return and leave the results to the Universe. It's fun and it works! What "seeds" will you plant for 2007?