Saturday 18 June 2011

Celebration time... c'mon!!!

It's not only the horrendous UK weather which makes it hard to believe that June is here already... it's the fact that for many, years seem to be whizzing by faster than ever.

Hard to believe then that the 1st of July... 6 months on from the day when many of us would have made our series of New Years Resolutions... is nearly upon us.

Finding / changing jobs, losing weight, taking up a course, starting a hobby, spending more time with family, expanding our skill set - there are all sorts of things that we vow to do at the beginning of a year - many of which are still on our list on December 31st.

So... I have a suggestion. This season (summer, winter - whatever it may be where you are) 6 months after the start of the New year, i.e. on or by the 1st of July - I'd like you to take 15-30 minutes to do an self-audit. That's right... kind of like an internal MOT... and here's how:

1. Look at your list of aims you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. If you didn't write them down, remember them and do so now.

2. Decide how far you have come along on each of those things. When it comes to your year so far, what are you proud of? What has surprised you? What are you kicking yourself about? What are you going to do about it?

3. Decide if these things are still important to you or if your aims, priorities and circumstances have shifted over the past few months. This can be eye opening. There's no point stressing that you haven't done something... if it's not still as important to you!

4. Edit your list accordingly

5. CELEBRATE! Yup that's right... celebrate. Well done you! Whatever the outcome of your 1st of July mini audit I want you to give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate. Why you ask? Well... because chances are, you have made some positive inroads to achieving these aims. You're determined, no? It's your determination which will ensure that you turn your words into actions.

But wait... there are some of you that haven't achieved these goals? Not researched that course for September? Didn't maintain your commitment to that fortnightly call to your mum? Not lost 5 out of the 10lbs you wanted to? 

Doesn't matter... you celebrate too! Acknowledge all the achievements this year which were not on your list - and essentially... celebrate in recognition of the fact that you are taking the time to audit where you are now so you can start taking that action which hasn't yet happened for some reason or the other. If it's still important to you, it's not too late to start now.

My silence on this blog since March has been because I've done some important celebrating of my own this year (see pic below) and I'm now getting back to my own stride which achieving my non-wedding related goals for 2011. I'm excited about getting going again on all my other priorities which have lapsed in the past few months... and I hope you feel the same about yours!

Celebrating on our big day
Photography by Beena