Not everyone likes to make resolutions in the New Year. Some people say that it’s too much pressure or that they are goal-setting all year, so why put an arbitrary time to start it? Other people like the motivation of having a fresh slate, a clean chapter to create anew.

If you fall into this latter category and want to make New Year’s a special time for reflection and commitment, there are plenty of little rituals that you can create. Here are a few:

1. NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: This is the most common one. New Year’s Resolutions are those things you commit to doing that year. This can range from long-term goals like losing 30 pounds to one time things to try that year like bungee jumping. The idea is to make your list and make a plan to stick to it. It is like a map for what you know you will create in 2010.

2. A VISION BOARD FOR 2010: A vision board can be a visual map of the things you’d like to create in the New Year. A vision is powerful because the unconscious responds to imagery and some people say that if you hang it up where you can regularly see it, that you will begin to manifest things without a ton of conscious effort. In order to make a vision board:
A) Take old magazines and cut out a bunch of pictures that inspire you. Sometimes you might not even know why you chose them. It could be a beautiful sunset, a hammock, children playing or it could represent more conscious goals like being an author, having a huge house etc.
B) Buy a poster board at your local drug store with a bunch of glue sticks. Other people prefer to buy a bulletin board and thumb tacks (that works too).
C) Arrange your pictures on the poster board and glue them on. You can also add quotes or words that inspire you like, ‘PEACE, LOVE, ABUNDANCE’ etc. You can put on pictures of yourself or your family too. You can get creative and paint on it too or place shells or little objects on it.
D) When you are done, take a step back and see how it makes you feel. If you feel happy with it, you can order a frame at Target for a poster board for around $10. When it comes, hang it above your bed or in your room where you will see it on a daily basis.

3. THE ABUNDANCE TREE: I have never done this one but I had this idea this year. They were selling huge Christmas trees and stands on our block recently for $20 and we had not gotten one this year. I thought about grabbing a discarded tree and taking this colorful construction paper that we have to cut out shapes. Then I would write on each colorful shape something that we want to create next year. For example, love, fun, travel etc. I thought it would be lovely to have an Abundance tree in our living room. Anyway, we did not get around to it this year but there is an idea for you!

4. WHAT WILL YOU LET GO OF THIS YEAR? Usually we think of what we will create in the New Year but it can sound (deceptively) more relaxing to think about what you will ‘let go of’ this year. By this I mean things that are not working for you. This could mean you will stop beating yourself up to be perfect, you will stop trying to control your boyfriend’s diet, you will stop criticizing yourself etc. You can also choose to feng shui or get clear of clutter. This involves sorting through your things and choosing what you love and organizing it. With the rest. You can donate it to someone who will love and need it. Creating space allows new things to emerge and it can free up your energy and increase your focus.

5. CREATE YOUR OWN RITUAL: Maybe you want to light a candle and say a blessing or create a ritual with your family. Sometimes we write out letters saying what we want to create as a family for the New Year and place them in a bottle to be thrown out to sea (ala the movie, ‘Message in a Bottle’). What are your rituals? Please share some below.

The New Year is an inspiring time to take stock and recognize that this year can be whatever you make it. So think big and remember that you are a powerful creator.

I hope it is a great one for all of you!

My Best in Love,

Paulette
www.mydatingschool.com  

Author of ‘Dating from the Inside Out: How to Use the Law of Attraction in Matters of the Heart’ published by Atria Books. And if you want to attract a great mate for you in the New Year get my book at: http://www.amazon.com/Dating-Inside-Out-Attraction-Matters/dp/1582701946/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240753066&sr=1-1  Enjoy!