Monday, January 2, 2012

Letting Life Naturally Unfold (& a give-away!)

new-years-day

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you. 
John De Paola

Am I the only one who isn't ready for the new year?  Don't get me wrong, I've been organizing a bit.  I've been reflecting on the past year.  I've written some goals down in my journal.  I'm ready to pack up the Christmas decorations and vacuum up the evergreen needles.  And yes, I love a new start.  A fresh. clean. slate.  

But I'm not quite ready to get out of my jammies.  I feel motivated.  I feel excited about what this new year will bring.  I have an idea of the direction I'm going in.  But my pace is...well...slower.  I've either been enjoying my morning coffee by the fire a little too much, or maybe...just maybe...my thoughts are changing and my body is listening.  Maybe I am really starting to see that I can still conquer my daily "list" AND get on the floor and play with the kids.  That reading yet another book at "nigh night" doesn't really take up that much time.  That when I make space for painting or yoga or time away from the family to recharge my batteries, it's beneficial to everyone. That if I stop at my son's request to play in the middle of sweeping, well, heck...the sweeping still gets done.  AND the world doesn't end if I don't finish that "list" in a day's time.  

Huh.

I'm a lover of New Years.  I'm the queen of writing intentions and resolutions.  Reflecting on the past? Planning for the future?  Setting goals?  Making lists?  I got that stuff down.

But here at the start of 2012, I feel the need to open up to the moment that is here, right in front of my eyes.  I feel more creative that way.  I feel more centered.  I feel happier as I drift through the day, with less expectations, less control, and less freaking out when things don't go my way.

My focus for 2011 was to receive, to learn to live without, and to embrace stillness.  In 2010 I focused on reducing clutter and creating space.  In 2009 I set an intention to live more boldly.

And now...I am listening to that inner request to slow down, to celebrate each moment, to LAUGH MORE, to PLAY MORE, to focus on my health and wealth, and to continue mothering with heART.

So I guess I really am ready for 2012, but rather than writing some crazy list of things to accomplish, I want to stop pushing and stop chasing.  I want to keep celebrating living each day and simply be more open to letting this new year (and my life) naturally unfold...

******

To celebrate my birthday (It's tomorrow!) I'm offering one last chance to win a spot in my upcoming Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course.  Just leave a comment on this post to the following question for your chance to win!  I'll announce a winner this Friday.

Your Personal Reflection:  What is your intention, phrase, special word, feeling or simple goals that are guiding you into the new year?

20 comments:

  1. I failed my last year's word miserably! I chose 'focus' as my word last year. I think the problem was the fact that I chose the word. I knew I needed more focus but didn't know how to do it, didn't know what to focus on, and I obviously wasn't ready for it because by the end of the year, I had forgotten what my word was!!! How's that for focus???

    This year? Well, this year, the word chose me. I was toying with several positive and inspiring words. None seemed right. None jumped out at me and I feared choosing wrong again. Then, the day before the New Year, a word chose me. It whispered in my ear and settled in my heart and felt... well it just felt right.
    My word this year is 'faith'.
    I am very much looking forward to this new year and I step forward into it in faith.

    :)

    Thanks for the chance to win! How very generous! And on YOUR birthday! A very Happy Birthday to you!!! You deserve the best!

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  2. After much deliberation, ahem, I chose 'my word'. I settled on "Flourish". It seems to fit so perfectly after last year when my word was "courage" and I finished my last year of college and graduated at age 45! The definition of the word Flourish as a Verb: Grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way
    Noun:
    A bold or extravagant gesture or action
    Synonyms:
    verb. thrive - prosper - bloom - blossom - wave
    noun. fanfare
    After demonstrating my courageousness, I fully intend to Flourish!
    Thank you Shannon and a very Happy New Year and Birthday!
    xokp

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  3. Happy New Year's. Happy Birthday!
    And, Happy Moment! I practice unfolding--a very peace filled, joy filled way of life.
    My intention word this year is excellence--as in truth, integrity, and transparency, no compromise, no holds barred. Along with excellence, I am exploring the concepts of commitment, routine, and stability--a bit of a challenge for me because unfolding allows for in such a way that I don't "need" a plan, that perhaps commitment, routine and stability will require. I feel the combination of my intent word and concepts are a potent mix that will allow me to raise my vibration to "soar" and to continue to live in alignment.

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  4. Happy Birthday to you!

    As the quiet moments of the this chilly winter night wind down to sleep...I reflect and prepare for the start of the New Year tomorrow with the kids starting school and business back in focus.

    My motto for 2012-Have Fun, Sparkle and Simply SHINE!!!

    May your birthday candles light the way for a fabulous year!

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  5. Just after Christmas, my husband lost his job. We're waiting on an autism evaluation for our 2 1/2 year old son. And my brother-in-law is being deployed next year, so we're moving cross country this year to help our sister-in-law with her two young children while he's gone. This will be my first move in 37 years (I never left my hometown), so I'm very scared, but very excited to learn more about who I want to be and who I am without the influence of almost forty years of history chasing me down the aisle at the grocery store shouting, "Didn't we go to school together?" ;) My goal for the new year is to be my completely awesome self -- whoever that is -- and embrace new possibilities! Though it may sound insignificant, my first move was to stop straightening my naturally curly hair. Lol!!

    Hope all of your sparkly candle wishes come true!

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  6. Peace. This is my big word for the year. We're settling down this year, and I need to begin settling down inside of myself after all the momentum of the last couple years. Peaceful Mama = more peaceful home!

    Happy Birthday!

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  7. Hi Shannon! Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to you! Magic is my word/intention for the new year. I hope to see, find and let it embrace me in my everyday moments.<3 Corinne

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  8. I just happened across your blog from Runninghood and I love it. What a great giveaway. Just today I chose my word for the year... calm. I think it can be applied to so many aspects of my life.

    I hope you had a very happy birthday!

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  9. Happy Birthday!!! My intention is to "be". Be, right where I am in that moment. I also want to "expand". Expand my business...peace. :)

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  10. My intention for 2012 is : listen.

    May your birthday be beauty full, and your year ahead full of love.

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  11. This I'm calling for my heart's family to be more present in my life, to share and create with my heart's community. I'm calling for love, more creativity, more joy and more laugh. Your give-away could be a way ... ;-)

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  12. I am still pondering about the word to choose, I think it will be more words:
    (good) humor, courage, action, truth, change, focus..(with this one I failed last year, like nacherluver said...)
    Hope you had a wonderful birthday and start of the year!

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  13. I am working on a long list of goals. I lived naturally last year, and while I loved it, I think some guiding focus this year will help steer me in the right direction!

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  14. Hello! Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday! I learned this new phrase/mantra that I've been using to guide myself into 2012 from a friend on New Year's Eve ... "Everything will be taken care of with grace and ease" ...

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  15. Happy Belated Birthday, Shannon!!

    I loved your line about "not freaking out when things don't" go your way. That is a huge part of my intention this year. I posted about my word for 2012, soften, yesterday. Here it is:
    http://acrunchylife.com/2012/01/03/the-practice-for-2012/

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  16. A little late.. But happy birthday!
    My word is FAITH. I have faith that 2012 will be a wonderful year and I will be exactly where I need to be.

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  17. Happy Birthday for the 3rd Shannon :) And I love that quote you share - I'm trying to do that myself right now!

    Amelia.x

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  18. Beautifully put and a great reminder to focus on what's really important ;)
    xo

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  19. I came across your e-course through a blog I read. It was a while ago (when you had your last child) and you were taking some time off. I put the course in the back of my mind where it must have been hiding. My family and I are currently going through some changes - not bad ones, but changes that make you pause and reflect. I started thinking about your course again and how I would love that inspiration right now. Since I can't remember which blog I found out about you, I am very glad I bookmarked you for a future season!

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  20. I forgot to put my phrase for 2012... Be myself, discover myself, love myself and be open to the positive.

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Thanks for sharing!