The New Year is my favorite holiday. I love the reflection and finality of the year before, and the freshness of a chance to improve, grow and change. I take as much time as I can the week between Christmas and New Year to think about what I am letting go of, and what I truly want to bring into my life in the next year. I invite you to do the same. What you sow now, you will reap during the next year. Here are some simple ways to wrap up the year and get focused for the year ahead:

Look back through old day planners and calendars. For each month, take note of your big accomplishments and/or events in each of the following areas of your life: health, career, family, social, spiritual, financial, home, {name any others that are relevant to your life such as school or pets}. There won't be activity in every area, every month. Some months it will seem slow; other months, you will see massive movement. This exercise takes time and reflection, but it's always valuable as we usually forget or diminish the many accomplishments and strides forward we have made through the year. The message of this exercise? Look at how powerful you are! Now imagine what you can accomplish next year!

Get very clear on what you are NOT going to bring with you into the New Year. It's impossible to build something lasting on a weak foundation. Being clear on the habits, patterns and beliefs you are leaving behind will help you to create a strong foundation for the New Year. Grab a notebook and think about five things that, if you didn't bring them with you into 2012, would make your life better and improve your odds of reaching your goals. Some examples: Self-doubt; spending time with people who drain you; addictions; listening to your critics. Once you know what you are not going to tolerate next year, you'll have room to...

Focus on what you DO want to manifest in 2012: This is more than setting resolutions. This is about getting clear on your own personal values and unique passions and purpose in life, especially now that you are divorced. Good questions to ask: Who were you before your marriage? What were your personal values and interests? What activities and passions did you love then, and what do you love now? If you're not sure, no worries. Make 2012 a year of discovery and be willing to unearth those values, passions and purpose. Once you know what they are, it's easier to know what you want in your life and it's more likely you will stick to those goals. Resolutions generally don't last because we set them around the things we think we 'should' do, not goals that inspire us or are in alignment with who we really are. But wanting something isn't enough. You've got to know how to make it stick, which means...

Think about how you will make your 2012 vision a lifestyle change, not just a resolution: We all know resolutions don't stick, so let's not even go there! Instead, think about how you can support your dreams (what you want to manifest in 2012) in terms of making a lifestyle change. For everything you want to manifest, ask yourself: what do I need to change immediately to make sure I'll reach these goals? What do I need to differently to make this sustainable? What or who is not serving me? As you answer these questions, you'll see how you can set yourself up for success. If you find that you are resistant to making a change, that's good information too. Spend some time exploring what your life will be like in a year if you don't make a change, and be willing to get some support on making changes so that you can have a life you are happy with.

The New Year is so much more than the next round of twelve months. It's a celebration and honoring of a new self, a new life, a new you. It's a time to consciously cast aside what hasn't served you, and enthusiastically embrace all the opportunities before you and all the opportunities you are going to create for yourself.

Can't wait to see you shine even brighter, Mamas!

Jeanie