By Baeth Davis, Your Prosperity Purpose Mentor

If resolutions worked for most of us, we wouldn’t need to make the same ones every January first. The key of course, is to change course whenever it is time. If it’s time for a new job, new relationship (maybe with yourself!), or new body, you can make this change at any time. Question is, when it’s time to shift, do you actually shift?

Let’s back up here for a moment. Most folks I meet are bored, stuck and frustrated by life. They feel let down, disappointed and annoyed by their circumstances. This may be because, at least in Western culture, we are constantly told we are ‘not enough.’ It is how most products are sold. If you had this lotion, info-product, shoes, car, blah, blah, blah, you would be suddenly sexy, thin, charismatic and by default, incredibly rich and sought-after. It’s crap, of course, but it sells.

Why do we buy a lie? We don’t want to grow up. We wish to stay children in our magical thinking Universe, waiting for someone, anyone to pluck us from the loneliness and uncertainty of our existential existence and tell us, “It’s going to be okay and I’ll fix it for you.”

Fact is, sometimes it’s okay and sometimes it is just plain awful. I’m telling you this not to bum you out but to empower you to look at your life honestly.

This past year, I enjoyed my work more than I ever have before. The programs and products we offered came from my core passions and talents. I feel our business is attracting a wide range of dedicated, compassionate, talented people. It was a great year creatively.

Financially, I made a lot of money (particularly amazing to me in this economic time of change). Or rather, I grossed a lot of money. I also got divorced. That was expensive (so many expenses – had to find a new place to live, new office, lawyer’s fees – you get the idea) so I didn’t net a lot of money. And the house I got married in burned to the ground in a massive forest fire that destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres and cost millions in damage. Humorous perspective? We always wanted to tear that house down and rebuild so nature did it for us!

On the upside, my former husband is still one of my best friends and he and I are going to roll out a program to help you jump start your life purpose-driven business in the near future. Divorce is challenging in the best circumstances. For me, I made a choice to have minimally no outer drama, but oh, did I cry myself to sleep many many nights and journal out my confusion until my fingers were blistered (really).

2011 saw me dancing again nearly three times a week, spending more time with my sister and close friends, writing, hiking and traveling. 2011 helped me understand that I don’t know very much about the future. Despite my plans, life does what it wants, with or without my cooperation. And yet, it is vital to plan! I grasped that love means keeping my heart open, even when my head rambles on about the past pain or future hope.

A new friend, Paige, shared some powerful year-end reflection and year-beginning creation questions with me. She said, “I think you’ll want these. I think you’re going to want to share them. You have my permission to do so.” She was right. I invite you to take 90 minutes and write out your answers. I did last month and found the experience profoundly eye-opening and healing. (And if you find them useful, please just forward this entire ezine to anyone and everyone you think could benefit from this self-review.)

Before I share the questions, I want to share with you a simple little tactic that has transformed so many relationships in my life this past year. What upsets anyone is a lack of respect. If you are upset or someone you know is upset, take a deep breath and put your hand on your heart. Know that you or they are hurting because they feel disrespected. Ask your heart what your heart wants. (It will tell you). Then act from your heart. And most of all, just listen and repeat back what you hear the other person say. Don’t retaliate, give advice or try to fix the situation. Listen, with love. If you find yourself going into thinking, simply remember your heart. You will be AMAZED at what happens. (And sometimes, you may still fight. Forgive yourself and try again.)

I know it sounds almost hokey but it works. And remember, there is NO excuse for abuse, from you or towards you so please, always choose the high road.

And now, to you and your amazing life!

2011 Reflection Questions 

• What was the smartest decision you made in 2011?
• What one word or phrase best sums up and describes your 2011 experience?
• What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2011?
• What was the most loving service you performed in 2011?
• What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2011?
• What are you most happy about completing in 2011?
• Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life in 2011?
• What was the biggest risk you took in 2011?
• What was the biggest surprise in 2011?
• What important relationship improved most in 2011?
• What compliment would you liked to have received in 2011?
• What compliment did you receive in 2011 that meant the most to you?
• What compliment would you liked to have given in 2011?
• What were some of the influential books you read in 2011?
• What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2011?

Creating 2012 

• What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2012?
• What advice would you like to give yourself in 2012?
• What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2012?
• What would you be most happy about completing in 2012?
• What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2012?
• What would you most like to change about yourself in 2012?
• What are you looking forward to learning in 2012?
• What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2012?
• What about your work are you most committed to changing and improving in 2012?
• What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2012?
• Who would you like to get to know better in 2012?
• What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2012?
• Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2012?
• What one word or phrase would you like to have as your theme in 2012?

Mentor’s Challenge: Answer the year-end reflection and year-beginning creation questions in a quiet, beautiful location. Treat yourself to a simple pleasure as a reward for completing this important task in your self-discovery journey.

If you want BIG Transformation and Support in 2012, please consider our S.L.A.M.M. program. REGISTER HERE for our educational webinar about the program.