Is your list ready?

Here it is. Once again. Like clockwork. Inevitably. A New Year. There are a few more Earth days to 2016, but the world is busy planning for that moment just past midnight which we will label 2016. Is it the Westernised world only? Let us just accept that a majority of the world, regardless of the calendar they culturally follow, are thinking to some extent of their New Year resolutions, with regard to the moment that 31 December 2015 will roll into 1 January 2016.

Sure enough, on the blogs I follow, and in the emails I receive, many people talking about what they hope to achieve in 2016, how best to do so, and some are even sharing some of what they dared to wish for and did achieve in 2015.

There are the “doers” like Tony Robbins (e.g. New Year New You, although this is a video from a while ago, I am guessing that his advice would be the same today), the practical spiritualists like Slade Robinson (Bite sized goals),  the dreamers like Nina Lamy (The Pollyanna Plan) and let us never forget the totally “out there”, “taking it to the extreme”, Abraham (one site you can find them on) who are proponents of the “Feel Good” path to your dreams.

There is a constant tug of minds between the so called scientifically minded, and the supposedly opposite spiritually inclined, as well as the whole gamut of people who are sort of inclined towards one path, while also believing in the other path as well. But everyone, possibly, agrees on one thing. They all agree that all people wish for their tomorrows to be more spectacularly fun than their yesterdays.

So you have those who tell you to dream big. Write it all down. Make a list, or many. Break it down into chunks. Go hell for leather. Aim for the stars and you will at least reach the clouds.

Others tell you to go the more cautious way. Dream big, but not too big, as you may be setting yourself up for failure. Follow step one, two, three….

There are those, and these people catch the most flak, who say that ALL you have to do is to feel great. Happy. Joyous. In love with what you already have. Expect what you wish for to manifest. ALL of what you wish for. This is perhaps the most difficult recommendation to swallow. For our life experience tells us a completely different story. If we want to have a drink of water, we have to get off our backside, walk to the tap, fill out a tumbler, and drink it. Or we have to ask someone for it. Point is, something needs to DONE before something happens. No pain, no gain. We need to push ourselves to just those 2 mm over our limit to get that extraordinary life. Besides, who can remain constantly happy in the face of the barrage of “evils” that life can throw at us?

Of course, the answer to this, we hear, is that our experience has been shaped by our expectations. And so the dialogue continues. Does our expectation shape our manifestation, or do we expect what has manifested?

We are always  eager to manifest so much, right now. Our education has taught us that we need to work hard in order to get anything. I think therein lies the problem. As soon as we say work “hard” we paint what can be a joyous experience in ugly colours. Hard. Difficult. Strenuous. Sweaty. Sleepless hours. Straining muscles. Aching head. “GMMMPPPFFFFH!” Every thing that is un-fun, scary and horrible.

Let us consider, in our cynicism, that we will never achieve a hundred percent of our dreams. That it is all too hard, too distant, perhaps even too unworthy. Let us then consider whether we enjoy being bogged down by that cynicism. As we live our day to day lives entwined in the mundane, do we have to ignore all the small wonders that lift our hearts and make our spirits sing? Even in the darkest hours is there not always something that we can look to, and say “Thank you for being here, right in this moment, to remind me that all is not lost”?

Let us consider, again, what that recognition of the small beauties leads to. It leads us to feel better, and even more than that, feel good. Is there not always that chance that this good feeling will make us more attuned to the other scattered bits of magic around us? May not this awareness lead us to seek more? More feeling good, more noticing the divine in the mundane?

Does that mean that there is a possibility that, by the end of 2016, we will have reached a place of more beauty through a journey of more adventure? Does that mean that the advice of the stalwarts may actually carry a grain of sense? Or two? Why not give it a try? Why not choose a path, there are many, to our own fun? Santa has made his list, and he has delivered. Now is the time for us to make our list, and the beauty is, that the Universe will deliver. Before you argue the point, is your list ready?

 

photo credit: Death to the Stock Photos

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Preparing for 2013. And Beyond.

I have often made up my lists. Called them New Year Resolutions. To Do lists. Intentions. I have kept them in view and read them everyday ( sort of). I have sealed them in an envelope to bring out at the end of the year ( then lost them, never to see them again). I have made long lists (aim long and I could hope to reach at least a few) and short lists ( keep it realistic). I cannot report that I have met with much success. My life has been pretty Average.

As 2013 approaches I have not been thinking of resolutions. I have been thinking of the journey since January 1 2012. I would have ultimately made a few resolutions/set intentions, and encouraged my son to do the same. But probably with the same world weary, cynical optimism that seems to characterise me. But the ubiquitous Facebook ( I am addicted, are you?) prompted me into action.

This is what I saw, shared by my sister, from a page called The Pagan Circle:

 
This January, why not start the year with an empty jar and fill it with notes about good things that happen. Then, on New Years Eve, empty it and see what awesome stuff happened that year. Good way to keep things in perspective!

Perhaps this is a great way to go. No. This is a great way to go.  I know I will feel elated as I watch the notes grow. Because good things happen. All the time. Sometimes in floods, sometimes in trickles. The problem is that I tend to forget them. I get bogged down by my failures, and irritations, and my constant battles with demons that I should have laid to rest decades ago.

I showed the picture to my son, and he seemed very taken with it immediately. That young man is a greater cynic than I ever was. But he nodded vigorously. He also asked a few pertinent questions. So we will have a family jar. I will go out today and buy a nice fancy jar, to make it extra special. I know even a simple one as shown in the picture, will work just as well. But I am excited.

Last week I was not feeling anything about 2013. Now I cannot wait, for 1 January, 2013. Actually I may just start filling that jar today, and go through my recorded blessings on 31 December 2012. That will give me practice for 2013. Perhaps my gratitude levels will be so high, I will attract more blessings in 2013! J.

Love

PS Okay, My life has been Mostly Awesome,. But Average is what it feels like most of the time.