It is that time of year that we all take stock on the past month and year.
When being asked, 'how was your Christmas?' This Christmas season has been the first one in a long time that I can say 'it was WONDERFUL.'
I don't think I realized or I didn't believe how being in love can make several different parts of life better.
Considering the losses in my life the holidays always make me moody and grouchy and somewhat annoying for my friends to be around me.
I remember a few weeks ago when my boyfriend and I were driving around looking at neighborhood X-mas lights. I warned him that the holidays sometimes have a negative effect on me. But upon my current reflection I only had one time that I really got ratty with him and it was directed towards his phone and he didn't react to me, but simply and nicely pointed out my overreaction the next day.
I found that creating new traditions for myself and my guy is what helped me survive X-mas. Making sure that we shared Christmas Eve just the two of us. Having lunch as the big meal, then getting dressed up and going to church in the afternoon and ending the day with driving around seeing the lights.
After answering some questions from another coach's newsletter I realized how far I have come. I encourage you to take the questions and do your own reflection to see where you have been and where you hope to be. I think that this process goes beyond silly resolutions that desire to be broken.
Here is some of my realizations.
The Last Reflection of 2011
by Ligia M. Houben
• How was your life journey in 2011?
Like an amusement park. Some rides are like roller coasters. Just got off of one durning the first part of the relationship with my boyfriend.
Other ones are like a slow Ferris wheel. Looking down from a far on to the place I want to be life I desire then as the basket gets closer and that life becomes a reality rather than an unattainable dream I find my self challenged to adapt. Like walking straight after getting off of the Tilt-a-whirl.
But over all it has been exhilarating, busy, at times frustrating (always $$ and time management to get done all that I want). All around things have been very happy. The occasional depression that affected me durning much of my 20's is very rare and I am better able to combat it.
• What did you accomplish?
75% of my ICA coaching program. Enrolling for the 10kin90days business/ getting clients side of coaching. Seeing 4 people transformed through my coaching them.
Being happy and mature in a well rounded serious relationship for about 2.5 months.
Being at my UNC job for over 1 year, plan on remaining there for another 1-2 years while building my coaching business.
Maintaining a fitness regime. Desire to be more disciplined about the food to get off the current weight plateau I am on. Just living and staying in one place for over a year is an accomplishment for me.
• What do you regret that you didn’t accomplish?
Finishing my program in one year. Will take 1½ years. But good cause more time to concentrate on my papers.
• What stopped you?
One potential client flaked out after a few sessions. But it was ok cause now I can hopefully work on my papers and take time to do them right. Also need to do my business plan and figure out how to attend the ICF London conference in October 2012. A there are growing necessities for the business.
• What could you have done to make it happen?
Managed my time better and work harder to not be distracted from the work that I need to do for ICA and coaching. Doing things even when I don't have the motivation to do them, just sitting down and doing them provides me momentum. The relationship is a blessing but it and daydreaming about the future is time consuming and at times a strain on my fiances.
• What did you learn from this?
As I develop in to my own boss I will have to come up with ways to manage my time and maximize the time I have for certain activities. Just this past week I have had a BAD habit of futzing around doing whatever all morning long and then getting down to the coaching stuff LATE in the afternoon when my motivation is limited by time.
• What do you want to accomplish in 2012?
-Graduating ICA, make contact with several groups in the area to talk about the grief process and what coaching has available for them. Be in a local paper as a human interest story. Acquire clients goal is to have 3-5 clients in a part time capacity to get to the point were I have a waiting list. Have a monthly newsletter I send out via e-mail. And a publication that I produce preferably an article that I can put in other publications. A podcast series of at least 5 talks and adding to the podcast at least every 2 months.
Create more income for myself and my future.
**Creating products that I can sell and generate their own income, workbooks with supported CD recordings.
-Continuing to grow closer in my relationship. I am seeking out podcast and ways to deepen our relationship so we have a good foundation. One that I listened to the other day was Building Healthy Relationships with Rick Feldkamp, he made me think.
-Maintain my friendship and family relationship and time to myself while being in the relationship. Seems like we are very comfortable in giving the other time to spend away from each other maintaining those other relationships.
-Maintain and amp up fitness regime and eating healthier. Loose 30lbs and maintain.
-Find affective useful ways of stress relief especially at work and driving. Regular MEDITATION.
-Become more effective at maintaining balance in all parts of my life and reasonably having time to accomplish what I need to do.
-Establishing times and places that I don't look at work e-mail or work on coaching things. Exception quick notes about ideas.
-Limiting time fantasizing/ planning wedding.
-Spiritually- joining a church small group. Continue reading the Bible about 4-6 times a week.
• What is the first step you can take now to make it happen?
-Having a stricter time maintenance, increase MEDITATIONS a must. Finding stress relieving activities.
-Replacing one meal a day with salad or turkey sandwich.
-Staying in Greeley every other week to do what needs to be done for ICA and coaching business.
-Contacting grief support groups in the area to speak for free to them.
-Being open to the advice of other couples.
I am excited to answer these questions next January and see how my life has transformed.
Wishing all of you out there blessings and achievements for 2012.
