How To Leave A Year On Good Terms

**FREE** End Of Year Exercise

Now really is the perfect time to spend a moment having a quick look back to the highs, and lows, of this year; 2009.  

All my clients do this, as ultimately it enables you to say 'farewell' to this past year on good terms and with a smile on your face, rather than a scowl that says, 'what a relief that's over'.  

This FREE end of year exercise really does set you up to succeed for a great start to what will be a fabulous New Year; 2010.  

Research suggests more than 60% of people feel a sense of relief, coupled with sadness that they didn't achieve what they said they wanted to achieve in the past year. Others feel they have 'unfinished business', scores to settle, points to prove, the last word to be said - except that'll it'll now be said in the New Year! 

Take a few moments now before the Christmas and New Year celebrations really begin to take stock of what went on in your year that is now coming to an end.  

What this simple and powerful exercise will do is get you in the perfect position to say 'goodbye' to 2009, whilst opening your arms and welcoming in 2010 with a glow of excitement and anticipation. In coaching terms, this approach is called 'setting you up to succeed'.

The Exercise

1. Give yourself an hour to complete this exercise. Be somewhere you can concentrate and not have to engage in conversation - it could be at home, burning a scented candle, drinking a cup of tea and playing your favourite music in the background, or maybe enjoying an eggnog coffee at your local coffee shop (wherever you feel best)!  
2. Now think back over the past year and begin your list entitled 'Achievements & Best Bits of 2010!' Remember, this is your list; no one else will read it, so be honest and give yourself credit where credit is due. As a gentle nudge, I'd suggest you write at least 50 successes.   
3. Now make a separate list of anything you meant to do but for whatever reason didn’t get around to in 2009. Think about goals you’d planned, places you meant to go, things you’d meant to say to people – including arguments you wanted to resolve. Keep what you write short and to the point; this is the edited version of your year, so bullet points could work a treat!  
4. Now for each of the items on Step 3, ask yourself: 
5. • Is this something I really wanted to do? 
   • Is achieving it still relevant? 
   • Will bringing it into 2010 assist me and others for the good? 
   • What on my list needs to be left behind? 
   • What else can I learn from this to help me move forward in a positive and empowering way next year? 
6. Finally, taking everything from all the steps above, begin writing your top 20 of what you want to achieve during 2010. Remember the old coaching proverb; set yourself up to succeed! Include all areas of your life, such as health, relationships, career, finance, fun, personal development, contribution, spirituality, travel, and any other area you recognise as a ‘must have’ for you to nurture and grow in 2010. 

What you now have is a plan, and even more than that, you’ve done some important work enabling you to leave 2009 feeling well, saying ‘thank you so much’, with a smile on your face and feeling of love in your heart. What a great way to say ‘farewell’ to a year of your life. Plus, you also have a key to the door of opportunity that is 2010 – without the baggage (!!), and how fantastic is that?

Now it’s only left for me to say thank you for taking the time. Raise your hand in the air, turn it around so it’s facing backwards, bend your elbow and give yourself a well deserved pat on the back. You deserve it.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas, joy and happiness in the New Year.