Last week I said on my Posterous post, after a particularly ‘creative’ run, that I had thought of some blog posts and content. Here is one of them. The run was a week or so after the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s untimely death and coincided with the seasonal ramp up in Christmas songs on radio and television; one of which, of course, is “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon. The song has a much deeper meaning and lyric than a pure Christmas celebration song, but that is not where I want to focus my attention. As a coach, I would like to take the first 3 or 4 lines and ask you to consider the question that is being posed in there…

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

John Lennon – Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

A time for reflection and new starts

This time of year presents a ‘natural’ hiatus to the usual routines of the year and with the New Year comes a traditional point for new starts and resolutions. Not that is this is necessarily the only time we should; I tend to think that perhaps you should be continually renewing, focussing on and setting yourself new challenges and goals. However, traditions are what they are…

2010, How was it for you?

In the sentiment of the second line above… here are a few questions that I pose for you to do your own reflection and review…

As you look back over 2010…

  1. What have you achieved?
  2. Which of the goals or resolutions that you set off into the year with have you actually achieved?
  3. What behaviours, characteristics, strengths did you use to achieve these things?
  4. What have you learnt as a result of these achievements?
  5. What did not go so well? What did you not achieve that you set out to do?
  6. What stopped you? (behaviours, characteristics, weaknesses)
  7. what can you learn from that? What can you do to tackle those so that they do not stop you in the future?
  8. What would you do differently next time?
  9. Where did you really surprise yourself?
  10. What is your biggest achievement of 2010 and how are you going to celebrate it?

2011, What are you going to do?

2011 is rapidly approaching, have you thought about what you want to do, what you want to achieve, what you want to have? The new year is just round the corner… using a selection of the questions above, imagine yourself at this time next year as you reflect on 2011 what do you want the answers to these questions to be?

  1. What have I achieved?
  2. Which of the goals or resolutions that I set off into the year with have I actually achieved?
  3. What behaviours, characteristics, strengths did I demonstrate to achieve them?
  4. What have I learnt as a result of these achievements?
  5. Where did I really surprise myself?
  6. What is my biggest achievement of 2011 and how am I going to celebrate it?

Think big, think about what you would do if success was guaranteed. Which reminds me of the inaugaration speech that Nelson Mandela gave, the part I want to draw to your attention is this

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?… Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory… that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others

Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, Harper Collins, 1992. Chapter 7, Section 3 (Pg. 190-191)

These things are there for the taking, as John Lennon says in the last but one line of the song above “If you want it”

With that I will sign off and wish you a happy and restful festive period. If you celebrate Christmas have a very happy one, if not enjoy the time that this season presents to spend time with family and friends. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. To your happy and prosperous New Year!

Janus