As the holidays wind down every year, I take some time to ponder the year gone by and map out a semi, sort-of plan for the coming one. "Ponder" is a great word. I looked it up (Merriam-Webster) and it covers a lot of ground - all in the realm of thought: "to weigh in the mind, appraise; to think about, reflect on; to think or consider especially quietly, soberly and deeply".
"Search, ponder and pray" was the prescribed method of solving any problem or discovering any truth that I was taught in my childhood and youth, and it's still viable for me today.
Robert Fulghum (one of my favorite authors) actually has a Ponder Day, three or four days after the start of the new year. Mine is nothing so official, and not on a particular day but, as I go about my work and during my quiet time, I ponder. Some of the things I'm including in my ponderings this year:
- This post from Danielle LaPorte. The first line of the last section is going to go up in my studio/workroom as a poster or something...
- This post and this post from Seth Godin
- 7 questions from Alexandra Franzen
- I love Tara Mohr's approach to mapping out the coming year by identifying your core nutrients
Some tools I've discovered that I think will be helpful:
- The Zig Ziglar goal planner. I sent one to each of my children for Christmas, too.
- This concept from Elsie Larson - not technically a tool, but the concept is something I plan to incorporate as a tool, so it totally counts, right?
- Susannah Conway has made up a workbook to "unravel the year ahead"
There are other concepts and tools and all out there that I may or may not incorporate into my pondering and planning, but I've already started firming up a few ideas to make 2012 an EXCEPTIONAL year!
I keep hearing Abraham Lincoln in my head saying "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." I'm making up my mind to be ecstatic!
Further bulletins as events warrant...
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