A New Year. A New Hope.

It’s January 1, 2019 and I’ve just settled into my hotel room at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco after a 4 1/2 hour flight from Atlanta. I planned this getaway far from my familiar surroundings and distractions for what I refer to as a spiritual / strategy retreat.  This is my way to getting centered and quiet enough to gain clarity of heart regarding my vision and a success strategy for this new year. It is also a time of reflection, a year in review of what worked, what didn’t work and what I need to do differently this year. You see, the last thing I want is to waste precious time on tasks, endeavors and connections that are not meaningful. 

As I plot out my course for the year, I feel a sense of excitement, joy and hope on the horizon. No, I didn't meet every metric that I set out to accomplish last year, but I made progress. I learned some key lessons in 2018 that has renewed my hope and strengthened my resolve to keep moving forward.

As we embark upon this new year, I encourage you to forgo the resolutions and take time out of your usual routine to clarify your expectations for 2019. What is your vision for each area of your life-- financial, career, spirituality, health, recreation and relationships? What do you realistically hope to achieve? What do you believe is possible for your life? What and whom do you need to let go? What hindered your progress in 2018?

Remember, when you find yourself having to negotiate a major life change, you need more than hope. You need a plan of action that will bridge the gap between where you are and where you’re going. You will save yourself much heartache by advancing strategically towards the results you desire.

Write down your vision for 2019 and visit it regularly. Creating a vision board serves as a great visualization that keeps your dreams and possibilities in plain view, which can be reassuring when discouragement creeps in. There are many occurrences in life that can cause us to lose hope, without which we lose sight of the possibilities for our lives. It is our hope that causes us to see a ray of light in darkness, peace in the midst of confusion, expectation in despair. Having a written vision with smart goals will help you remain hopeful in the face of difficulties.

#newyear2019 #newyearnewhope #newyearnewbeginning #newyearnewyou