Now that the holidays have passed and you have some breathing space, it may be time to consider how you can turn those Happy New Years wishes into reality. 2012 is a brand new chapter in your book of life and you are the one holding the pen.

I like to start my new year off with a little soul searching about my desires and intentions for year. I’m not talking about resolutions here. Covered that in my previous post. Instead, I like to take a broad brush approach to what I visualize for my life in the coming year. I hit the usual categories: work, finances, relationships, family, recreation, etc. Then I look at the actuality of what happened in the previous year in each of those areas and consider what changes may need to be made if I want my new life intentions to come to pass.

I invite you to join me in this exercise to create a happy, healthy new year:

1. If you don’t have a journal, that’s the first step in the process. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just a book with blank pages.Resist the temptation to journal on your computer. There’s an emotionally supportive component to handwriting your journal.
   
2. On the first page write out all your desires and intentions for the new year. You can use bullet points or write a narrative. Be sure to cover all the significant aspects of your life. Let yourself dream. Giving yourself the opportunity to have dreams that make you feel happy anticipation is a real boost to your mind, hormonal, nervous and cardiovascular systems.
3. Page two of your 2012 journal will be your list of how things went for you in 2011 in each of those areas of your life. Be honest and attempt to bypass the urge to wallow in those areas that didn’t go so well. Remember, the past is the past. You’re about to create a better future.
4. Now on the next page, after honest evaluation, write down any changes you need to make in order to make room for your happy new year. For instance, if you had some bad financial events in 2011, what part did you play in that? You can only change what’s in your control. So look only at what you can actually do to make a difference in 2012.
5. Every night, re-read page one: your vision for 2012. Review your day and celebrate the things that happened or actions you took that fell into alignment with your dreams for 2012. Write them down in your journal along with any insights.  DO NOT judge yourself for things you may have done that didn’t keep you on your path.
6. Whenever you have a decision to make, ask yourself: “Will this action take me closer or further away from my goals for 2012?” Choose the action or thought that is most in sync with your vision for the new year.

Paying attention, becoming aware of the synchronistic events that support your dreams for the future is a source of happiness in itself. So is celebrating the small changes you’ve made that enable your vision.

Gratitude and appreciation are emotions that stimulate a cascade of neural, hormonal and biochemical events that benefit the entire body.

So the bonus to this exercise can be greater health and well being. Let me know how you’re doing with the exercise and do share your results.

Have a healthy, happy new year!