Tuesday 1 January 2013

Staying resolute


Happy 2013!

I read an interesting article today in the Entrepreneurs' Circle monthly magazine. Guest writer Vic Johnson talked resolutions.

He made an interesting point, one I've heard before from my good friend Leanne Flower but it's always useful to be reminded.

It's about maintaining a positive attitude toward our goals and hopes for the year ahead. Vic uses the classic January example of weight loss. He points out that setting a goal to lose weight is negative in itself, plus it speaks volumes of future angst and torture. It's hardly a good starting point. How much better instead to picture yourself in the mirror in February clear-skinned, toned, glossy-haired and sparkly-eyed - a vision of health and fitness? I don't know about you, but I feel pretty good about working towards becoming this February girl.

To help, I'm writing myself a long list of positive verbs - build, grow, commit, make, test, create, learn and above all, I'm believing in the beauty of my dreams rather than thinking too much about the slog I need to do to get there. With the shining touchstone of success guiding me through the tough times it all feels so much easier.

2013 begins for me with a clear(ish) plan with some SMART goals and a rough idea on how I'm going to achieve them. However, I never like to set anything too much in stone (it takes far too long to chip away all that concrete). I believe a spot of by-the-seat-of-your-pants flying is often the magic dusting required to take a project to an elevated level. Being able to shift the plan at a moment's notice to embrace that exciting vision that just popped in your head can lead to the remarkable over the mundane. It's a method of working I highly recommend - never stop asking questions. I know I'm not the only one who thinks like this...

"Don't think! Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things."

(Artwork above is something I made the other evening after a fun planning session.)


8 comments:

  1. Gorgeous image...and plan. I too am planning on NOT planning so much this year :D I miss my freedom and want to fly again :D XXX

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  2. Lovely painting, hope those beautiful dreams come true! Valerie

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  3. Happy New Year Lisa! I am going to be that Feb girl too and it will my birthday so double celebrations! X

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  4. Brilliant post - it's really about being gentle with ourselves and moving at a slower more realistic pace. Goals are always better than resolutions - resolutions always seem so final and set in concrete. I hope you have a wonderful, creative 2013. xox

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  5. Success truly is a combination of both. Here's wishing you a wonderful year ahead!
    ♥Sharon

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  6. Happy New Year Lisa.
    This is such a beautiful painting. Marvelous work.
    lovely greet Marja

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  7. i love the concentration on the positive....that February Girl sounds like a much better vision than all the sweat and deprivation that may be required to become her :)

    The art is wonderful, too!

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  8. Great post! Love the art too.
    Wishing you the best 2013
    Nicole/Beadwright

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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