When I was a kid and the Olympics happened, they were on the TV 24/7.  None of this delayed broadcasting for maximum audience and the good edited story, it was live.  It makes me crazy to see Olympic downhill skiing at 9:30 pm.  How can it be daylight in Vancouver and night when it’s happening on TV????   Vancouver’s time zone is one hour behind us in Colorado…

 What I love about the Olympics is seeing folks follow there passions.  These people are laser focused on their goals - they are the elite of the elite.  I appreciate the dedication to their dreams while at the same time, I would never want to follow in their footsteps. 

 These folks do not live a balanced life.  They are obsessed.  Frankly, they could not be the elite athletes they are living a balanced life.  They are absolutely and completely focused on perfection – winning the gold.  Perfection and balance are in a way, mutually exclusive.  Balance is often discovered when you abandon some imagined perfection…

 One of my favorite Olympic sports is curling.  My husband teases me that I like best the overweight, chain-smokers with small brooms on ice…First he exaggerates the negative stereo-types – absolutely.  But, he is right; the curling competitors are not usually examples of supreme physical health.  I like that these folks look like regular people and seem to have fun.  Maybe I could do that…Now where is there a curling league?  Switzerland?  Olympics 2016 could my year.

 My other favorite winter sport is the biathlon.  Amusingly it is almost the antithesis of curling with its elite fitness - a combination of target shooting and cross-country skiing.  Insultingly, even though the biathlon aired yesterday during the day – it was delayed to fit NBC’s tv schedule.

 Hey NBC – stick to the relentless skating at night and play the events live!!! 

Recently I have been contacted by many previous clients that are “so close” to the change they seek – be it a new job, a move, a letting go, peace, whatever the transformation – so close…What to do when you are so close?

 May you discover the delays were gifts and the transformation is richer for it…

I’m not one of those people who has New Year’s Resolutions, but I do have intentions for a better year.  I feel the New Year offers a chance of rebirth, a fresh start, a cleaning away of the old to make way for the new.  Over the years, I’ve developed an exercise for myself and my clients to enhance the process of cleansing from the last year and welcoming a fresh, abundant new year into your life.

I do this exercise once a year, sometimes in January or around my birthday in the springtime.  I don’t think the calendar date matters as much as your own personal desire for a clean slate and a new beginning.

First, write down everything you did not like about last year.  No censoring.  Include all your disappointments.  Difficulties in love.  Financial struggles, fights with family or coworkers.  Concerns with health.  The loss of someone you love.  Ended relationships.  Possibly the loss of a beloved pet.  Moments you let others down, even yourself.  Get everything out.

This may bring you to tears: that’s ok.  Let it out.  By writing these experiences you can release the negative energies that tie you to the past.

Once you have finished, read through the pages.  Upon finishing say out loud, “I am grateful for the lessons I have learned from these experiences.  I now release myself of the past and the pain.”  Then destroy the pages through burning, or the like.  Once the pages are completely gone, say out loud, “I welcome love, joy and abundance into my life today and every day.”

Now write out all the things you did like about this past year.  Things you’ve learned.  New relationships.  Advances in your career.  Family.  Vacations.  Spirituality.  Great books or movies that have stayed with you.  Any experience that brings you profound love for others or yourself.  Acknowledge all the gifts this year has brought into your life.

Again by writing it all out you experience the joy of those moments all over again.  It becomes tangible and more real.  Once you’ve completed the pages, read through them and then say out loud, “I am grateful for the love I have received and freely given.  I am blessed.  Thank you.”  Set the pages aside for later.

The next part is truly my favorite part of this exercise; writing a letter to your self.  The letter is everything you would like to see happen or accomplish this next year.  I divide the letter into seven parts; self, career, financial, relationship with significant other, health, motherhood and spirit.

You can modify the parts to fit your life.  Everything you write down is for your best life.  Think big and stay positive.  Dream the very best year and write it down.  Be specific.  Your thoughts become words, your words become deeds and your deeds build your life.  Let go of the “what ifs” and any fears that come up.

Personally, I have struggled with fear my entire life.  I read somewhere once that, “fears are dragons that keep us from our most precious treasures.”  For me those treasures are love and freedom.  What are your most precious treasures?  What blocks you from those treasures?

Once you have completed the letter and are satisfied with it, take this letter and the pages you set aside previously and put them in an envelope.  Address the letter to yourself, place a stamp on it and put it in the mail.  This is very important: DO NOT SKIP THE POSTAL SYSTEM.  The message must go out into the universe, freeing you to receive your most abundant year ever.  When I get the letter back in the mail, I don’t open it.  I put it in a drawer, knowing my message has been received and the universe is conspiring to make it so.

I have been doing this exercise for several years with great success.  Not everything works out the way I envision.  Sometimes it is even better and sometimes not, but I am always surprised.  This exercise helps you release the negativity and pain of the past year thus not bringing it into the new year.  It also allows you the opportunity to bring the good things of the past into the next year.  Most of all it opens the door to a more abundant life in the New Year.  May it be so.