Want Clarity and Intention in 2019? Try This.

One of my surfing friends in California told me earlier this year I had to check out a little town called St. Jean De Luz in Basque Country, France.  In addition to being a quaint Basque town, there is a wave there that breaks on a particular swell.  So, in November, I made my way towards St. Jean De Luz and the surf break with some friends. As I walked down the beach at sunset taking in all the beautiful colors and reflection of the sky and the water, I realized I had seen this place before.

The scene from my dream...

I used to do a meditation a few years ago where I’d imagine a scene somewhere in Europe.  I wasn’t exactly sure where it was but it could have been coastal Italy.  There were old buildings cascading the coastline overlooking a bay that had tiny rolling waves in it.  I’d imagine myself in the sunset bobbing up and down in the water, taking in the view.  The picture I had envisioned in my mind’s eye from this meditation was now here right in front of me.  I almost couldn’t believe it.
 
The subconscious mind has a way of directing us to shape our reality.  Our mind has a sort of internal GPS, if you will. For this reason, I cannot stress enough the importance of vision and reflection.  When we reflect on experiences, we move memories from one area of the brain to another, which helps us use those experiences towards making larger contextual decisions in our lives.  So, in the spirit of vision, I wanted to share some tips and tools with you for your own year-end vision and self-reflection.  These are tips and tools I’ve picked up from my own processes and from coaches I have worked with personally.   They can be used for yourself, and also as a fun exercise with your teams. 

Step 1:  Answer these Reflection Questions

These are from coach and colleague Cynthia Sumner of True Nature

1. What do you want to recognize, acknowledge, and celebrate about yourself in 2018?  / What do you want to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate about your contributions to the team in 2018?
   
2. Who did you have to be, (how did you show up), in order for these things to happen?
3. What do you want to be celebrating at the end of 2019? What do you want to feel like?
4. What is it time to let go of for 2019? 
5. What are the most important theme/ themes for you to honor in 2019?
6. What would a successful life at the end of 2019 look like? 
   

Step 2: Set Your Intentions for the Year to Come

Write down each of these areas of your life.  For each one, rank how fulfilled you feel on a scale of 0-10 next to each area.  Zero means it is non-existent in your life.  10 means you are completely fulfilled with that area.  Then, write about that area and what made you choose the number you did.

1. Career
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Significant Other/ Romance
5. Fun/ Recreation
6. Health
7. Money
8. Personal Growth
9. Physical Environment   

Next, for each area, set an intention for yourself for the New Year.  What intention would you have to set for each area to raise the number at least 1 point?  Take, for example, the category of friends.  I will give myself a 7. Why? This year has been about deepening existing connections with my friends, and opening more space to celebrate with my friends.  It has also been about making new friends and connections on my travels without losing connection to my friends at home.  It has also been about leaning on friends, and feeling grateful for my connections with them.

The intention I’d like to set for 2019 for my friends is to be generous.   I want to deepen my connection with friends through increased generosity with my time and resources.  Got the picture?  Great!  Do this for each category.

Step 3: Help Your Team Set Their Intentions

Want to use this as a reflective end of year practice with your team?  Try these categories instead, taken from a professional wheel of life tool created by The Coaches Training Institute:

1. Success in working across departments/ divisions
2. Career
3. Generating Results
4. Relationship with manager and team
5. Work/life balance
6. Personal well being
   
7. Time Management
8. Organization

Have them rate each area in terms of how fulfilled they feel on a scale of 1-10.  Ask them to share what made them pick the numbers they did.  Ask them what are one or two areas they would like to try to raise their number for next year.  Then, ask them what action they would need to take to make that happen.  And voila!  You have a little coaching for your team members. You’ll probably find it a lot of fun to reflect with them in this way. 

Step 4: Create Your Vision Using Visuals

Though this is optional to the process, I’d just like to stress how powerful it is to move vision from thoughts and written words to images.  There is something powerful about an image that the brain can really grasp onto.

Gather images and words from magazines and clippings, or other art that appeals to you. Images can include family pictures, quotes, and other meaningful things too (that you don’t mind gluing).  Don’t think too much about it.  Just go with your gut and do what feels easy and FUN! For magazines and visuals, consider going to your local library. Invest in nice paper from an art supply store. Consider using paper with textures and designs. DO NOT be stingy with your vision board. Think of this as a piece of art you are creating for your space, home or office, one that will invite discussion and curiosity from friends, family, co-workers, or employees who may visit you. 
 
You may also want to do this with your team as a fun exercise.  Get out the art supplies and have a fun session helping people create visuals for the intention and vision they’d like to set for themselves in your business or organization for 2019. 
 
Most importantly, have fun!  Here’s to starting the year with intention and clarity!

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Farhana Huq is an Executive and Leadership Coach, Surfer, Global Explorer, and Founder of Surf Life Executive Coaching and Brown Girl Surf

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