Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the end of 2018 and the start of 2019!

Even though 2019 has just arrived, I’m already thinking about 2020…and it’s all Cat Deeley’s fault!

You see, last year I watched her show, This Time Next Year, in which people declared their intentions for what they wanted to accomplish over the course of the year…and immediately revealed whether or not they reached these goals.

In the show’s first segment, Cat interviewed them about their current life and what they’d like to be different in a year. Then the resolution-makers walked backstage and, mere moments later (for the TV audience), reemerged after a year had gone by (for them) — an apparent miracle of time travel (which I assume was an illusion created by filming the show’s first half and second half a year apart — although, with technology being what it is these days, you never know)! 😉

Regardless of the time-travel “miracle” (or post-production illusion), the real miracle was the transformation that so many of the participants made in their lives — from overcoming major physical challenges to gaining confidence and independence thanks to the help of a seeing-eye dog.

And, as the show’s producers undoubtedly intended, these transformations got me thinking about my own life, asking:

• Where do I want to be this time next year?
• What do I want my life to look like and feel like in a year?
• How do I want to be different?

When I imagine being on this show, I see myself emerging from the “Next Year”  entrance holding two books that I’ve written: one recently published book plus a completed manuscript of a new one.

More than the tangible results of the year, however, I see (and feel) myself radiating health, happiness, ease, and confidence. I’m smiling authentically, speaking and listening from the heart, and connecting meaningfully with others. I’m living in the moment, comfortable in my life. I’m appreciating what is and feeling eager for what’s to come.

(I’ve also got a healthy glow thanks to spending lots of time at the beach!) 🙂

Yes, it’s nice to imagine myself glowing with vitality while holding my two new books, but honestly, if I’ve got the inner part of the equation, the rest is gravy.

How about you? What would you say if you were on this show? If Cat Deeley asked you to describe your life right now — as well as the life you’d like to be living this time next year — what would you tell her? And, if all went well, how do you imagine yourself during the “Next Year” portion of the show? What would you tell Cat about your situation in early 2020? What’s different about your life? What have you accomplished? How do you look and feel? What is it like to be future-you living this future-life?

When you imagine this best-case scenario, see if you can visualize it in your mind’s eye and experience the emotions right now. And then ask yourself these questions:

• How did I do it?
• How did I get from where I was at the beginning of 2019 to this great place where I am right “now” (in early 2020, that is)?
• Who helped me in this journey of transformation?
• What steps did I take?
• What made the biggest difference?
• What was the first step I took to begin this transformation?

And then, after you’ve taken some time to bask in the joy of your triumphant transformation, go and take that first step.