I’d like to start off by asking you a question: “What do you want out of life?” I realize that this is a pretty loaded question. Almost like, why is the sky blue or why is lint attracted to belly buttons? Some questions are kind of hard to answer. But, as I get older I discover more and more that life is a series of fortunate accidents, unfortunate accidents, and intention. Still not sure about the belly button lint
It’s only a week into the 2015 and if you’re like most people you’ve probably made a resolution or two. You may have even spent sometime thinking about what you didn’t accomplish last year or are feeling pretty good about what you did accomplish.
What Do You Want Out of 2015?
For the purpose of this post I want to focus on intention. Some of us subconsciously understand this and practice habits that move us towards what we want in life. I will admit that I think that we have to be very aware of the energy/thoughts/actions that we send out everyday to the universe. For example: Have you met those people who believe that the world is crappy and people suck? And you look at their life and you’re like wow you’re really unhappy and your life kind of sucks?
Or, you wake up and wonder why you’re stuck and nothing’s happening to move you towards what you want in life ? Not like I would understand this feeling at all (sarcasm).
You Need To Craft A Vision For Your Life
Just like when you’re at work and you have a plan for your professional life for the year. You have to do the same with your life. I want to be clear about something right now: it is highly unlikely that you will meet all of the goals that you set for 2015. If you are a regular reader of blogs, books, or watch the t.v., you will notice a long list of people talking about the goals that they didn’t achieve. I always think that’s a waste of time. It’s not like you’re never going to achieve those goals. Maybe it’s just not the time for what you want to happen.
Focus on What You DID Achieve!
And how you achieved it. I am a big believer in crafting vision boards, writing goals for the upcoming year, and meditating on what I want for myself.
Craft A Vision Board
You will feel like you’re in the 4th grade, but wasn’t that a great year to be a kid? None of the body odor and all of the childish enthusiasm about life. So, how should you craft your vision board for 2015?
- Get a a large cork board/a big piece of construction paper/or your diary.
- Get a bunch of magazines
- Glue
- Scissors
- Your imagination!!
Think about what you want and split your board into different quadrants that reflect what you’re focusing on. For example, my board for 2014 was split into the following quadrants: love, wellness/fitness/travel/and money
I then began looking for pictures that would reflect what I envisioned for myself. Not only did I do that, I also wrote things down, and checked back from time to time on my progress with some of my goals. I personally prefer to use a large cork board as I sometimes move things around the board.
Be Audacious!
Dream big dreams. Why dream small? If you achieve half of your big dream you may find yourself to be just as happy as if you achieved the original goal that you set for yourself.
Keep Your Goals To Yourself
As much as possible, keep your goals to yourself. Or, be very, very careful about who you share your dreams with. You will be surprised by the Naysayers. They come in many different forms: parents, loved ones, kids, and colleagues. Once they show a lack of understanding of your dream-shut’er down. Don’t try to convince people why YOUR dream is amazing. Just let it go and share with people who get it.
What I Want Out Of 2015
Yes, I’m sharing some of what I’m dreaming about for myself with you lovely people. But, you’ve proved to be my biggest supporters!
- Love-I will be focusing on meeting “The One” Basically, I will be hanging out in Menver (Denver) participating in events and activities that I enjoy and I’m pretty sure that I will met a nice guy sometime next year. It helps that I’m rested and not commuting for 4 hours everyday. Ugghh.
- Connection With Others-I will be focusing on spending more time with the people in my life that I love. I love my family and friends! I can’t wait to go bike riding with mom, go to coffee with my friends and all of their little ones, go hiking, happy hour, and yoga with the singletons.
- Professional Success and Money-I am looking to grow professionally and make money.
- Savings-I want to save a certain amount of money. Time to make it happen.
- Debt-Pay it off. That simple
- Health and Wellness-Focus on keeping things calm in my life. I already have enough things that stress me out so I really want to eliminate the things that bother me. Those things include: long commutes (done) negative people, cynical people, depressing people, zombies (what happened to hot vampires?) My weight.
- Fun and more time in Nature-I love going to the mountains, camping, snowboarding, hiking, and can’t wait to go snowshoeing with Mr. and Mrs. 1500! I love enjoying Colorado’s amazing landscape and I am looking forward to embracing opportunities to hang out in the mountains as often as I can. I also am looking forward to all of the free festivals, movies in the park, volunteering, and the discovering new places.
That’s literally all that I want to focus on this year. Every other year has been full of job related stress and anxiety or money related stress and anxiety. I’m not saying that I won’t have stress and anxiety, I just will have structured my life in such a way that I can manage issues better when they come up.
Please share with me some of the things that you want for yourself! Supportive space right here! Let’s encourage each other as we dream big!
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A good one Michelle and I really think that 2015 will be very good to us all. Bring ‘the one’ to the next FinCon for introductions 🙂 (and come to visit us in Manchester, UK to meet John). What I want? I want health, wealth and security – yep, I’m that predictable.
Thanks Maria! I have a good feeling about 2015. Love it! I will try to do that and the next time I’m in England we will all go out for a nice dinner 🙂
I am agree with all your post, Good goals have a great year full of happiness and great things!!!
Let’s have an amazing year!! Full of happiness and joy.
I actually bought a board about 5 months ago to create a vision board for myself and still have not done it. I’m eventually going to do and look at it every morning to remind myself of what I want my life to be like in the future. Thank you for reminding me.
Do it this weekend. Just get ‘er done! It will be a lot of fun and it’s not that hard. You just have to be honest about what you want. Given what you’ve mentioned before I would definitely have a picture of London on your board and a date for when you’ll start living there. There are a number of things that have come to fruiting on my board and everyday I wake up and look at it (it’s in my bedroom) It works.
What do I want out of 2015? We thought about this before the year 2014 ended. So I and my wife worked on a vision board, which is now hang in our living room to remind us always. It is really effective so far because we’re reminded and motivated always.
Vision boards really, really work! I love mine and I can’t believe how many things came to fruition. Of course being constantly reminded of my hopes, wishes, and dreams on a daily basis helped keep me motivated on a daily basis. Can’t wait to hear about your family moving into your new home!
I’ve never used a vision board but my mind is clear about what I want to achieve and it’s worked for me so far. I can’t wait to see how 2015 plays out for you and I know it will be for the better. I do hope to see you sometime this year – maybe I’ll come out to visit you in Denver if I can swing it. 🙂
I had a lot of mental distractions-LOL! OMG if you come to Denver that would be awesome. Would host you in the Hobbitshire. My place is little but you will be comfortable. Will keep you posted on how 2015 goes.
I have zero qualms about the Hobbitshire and know that you are always welcome to stay at my humble abode in S.I. 🙂
Great post Michelle. Good luck to you in 2015! I want to build wealth in 2015 and continue to educate people about budgets, debt and how you can get your financial life on track. I think a vision board might help me stay focused. Thanks!
Thanks Brian! Sending good luck to you and yours for 2015! I love that you are educating people about money. Vision boards are amazng.
Great post Michelle, and I think you are going to have a lot more time now that that hellish commute is over to really focus on yourself this year. I have my board ready to make a vision board…problem is I have no idea where to hang the damn thing! 🙂
The difference in my mental clarity just by getting up naturally and having 8 hours of sustained sleep is unbelievable. I don’t hang mine it’s propped against the wall on my dresser. Also, I have no idea what nails to use with the type of walls that I have.
I love the idea of a vision board. I did them all the time when I was in high school and college. This year I want to save more (including putting more into retirement savings), go on one international trip, and get engaged (this is the year, I’m sending “propose to me” vibes to Eric 😉 )
I am sending vibes on your behalf to Eric too!! Vision boards are awesome and several of the things I was focused on has come to fruition.
I made a vision board for my to encourage me to be more active and make healthier food choices about 2 years ago and it’s still motivating me, so I think vision boards are awesome!
I think you’ve set some great intentions for 2015. They are realistic, based on your values and will improve your life.
Vision boards are creepy! They really do work.just have to work hard and stay positive 🙂
You have such an amazing vision for yourself, I’m glad to be your friend! I am a firm believer in vision boards since the majority of mine came true in one way or another. Definitely making another one for this year to replicate the success!
What do I want out of 2015? I want to continue working on my education, spend more in line with my values ( or save, since I want security in 2015) and to get rid of a burden that has been hanging over my head and will not go away. I am hopeful that God will help me and this is the year it will be done!
I’m so happy we’re friends too! I really feel that my vision board played a key part in keeping focused on my vision. My board is pretty large and I walk past all day long. It’s hard to ignore something that you look at everyday. You will get rid of the burden!! It will happen and we are all sending good energy your way to help you manifest what you want and make it happen.