An Improved You For The New Year!

On the other side of this Holiday Season is a New Year. Many of us view a New Year as an opportunity to reset the clock, to build an even better life, to do things different than we have done in the past. I once heard that the best way to predict your future is to create it. With this in mind I offer you an opportunity, a road map to a successful New Year and healthy life.

Achieving your success depends on what you define as important to you. At the core of your success are your values and principles. What do you value? What does success mean to you? In other words, what is really important to you? Below is a list of values. You may want to invest some time in you and look them over. If a value you hold dear is not on this list, please add it to the list.

Please pick ten of the most important values you choose to live by this next year from the list below.

Abundance Courage Fun Generosity Creativity Acceptance Gifted Culture Accomplishment Grace Curiosity Achievement Gratitude Danger Adaptability Happiness Daring Adventure Decisiveness Hard Work Affection Democracy Good Health Detail Amusement Dignity Holiness Creative Diligence Loyalty Principled Living Solitude Lust Privacy Interpersonal Space Magnificence Spirituality Materialism Quality Stability Sense of Purpose Spontaneity Meaning Quirkiness Strength Music Rapture Being Supportive Being Supported Nature Rebelliousness Neatness Recognition Synergy Talent Relaxation Novelty Nourishment Religion Tenacity Nurturing Resilience Personal Fulfillment Personal Growth Friendship Contribution Humility

Tolerance Tradition Respect Individualism Open-minded Responsible Tranquility Opportunistic Likes Change Likes Stability Order Truthfulness Reward Organization Being Right Trust Originality Well Rounded Balanced Unique Partnership Safety Unity Passion Security Patience Self Expression Variety Patriotism Self Esteem Wealth Perseverance Serenity Go with the Flow Helpfulness Fairness Discipline Honesty Integrity Attractiveness Honor Diversity Authenticity Ease Human Dignity Authority Power Ecology Humor Imaginativeness Education Autonomy Awareness Effectiveness Independence Beauty Peace of Mind Possibilities Boldness Eloquence Ingenuity Emotional Intimacy Having Boundaries Brilliance Endurance Insight Being Accepted

Perfection Feeling Complete Playful Sharing Wisdom Winning Silence Pleasure Politeness Simplicity Wonder Drama Positive Attitude Social Status World Peace Youth Possibility Power Socializing Youth Zealousness Compassion Flexibility Laughter Confidence Lawful Connection Forgiveness Leadership Consistency Education Leisure Equality Purity Candor Inspiration Enthusiasm Inspiration Caring Entrepreneurship Instant Gratification Challenge Intelligence Excellence Change Equality Charity Expertise Intuitiveness Exuberance Cleverness Comfort Fame Joviality Community Family Joy Justice Competitiveness Financial Independence Knowledge Self – Awareness Freedom Interdependence Intimacy Love

Now that you have done this, create a principle statement that corresponds to each value. For example, if "Integrity" was one of your core values, a principle statement might be: "I will do the right thing all the time." You may find it easier to group certain values together. Principles are rules of action that you create to govern your actions and they are rooted in your values. These statements are an agreement with yourself that guide your actions. Regardless of what happens around you or to you, you now will be clear on how to proceed. Please keep this in mind: it is easy to live value- base and principle- centered when all is going well in your life. It is a whole lot harder when faced with critical decisions. A bit of advice that may seem overly simplified here is this: always do the right thing and remember sometimes the right thing does not always feel right.

If you choose to invest in yourself a bit further, please continue with this next exercise. I call it The Wellness Wheel. Create a circle on a piece of paper and begin to divide it up like a pie into categories of importance. These will most likely be derived from your list of values. What percentage of your Wellness Circle will you assign each category? The question here is not how much you should invest; rather, it is how much you will invest.

Some suggested categories are:

Family
Social Life/ Friends
Physical Health
Spiritual Health
Emotional Health
Home & Professional Physical Environment
Professional Life
Economics
Intellectual / Professional Development
Personal Development
Adventure / Recreation / Travel, Fun...
Community / Volunteerism

Those who have participated in these exercises (in both my Leadership Team Challenge and Creating A More Positive Workplace workshops) have told me that they have found it difficult to make some of these choices. In order to achieve what you really want in your life, you may have to do some life - restructuring.  I have found that a wheel out of balance will bounce and wobble along but one fully balanced will roll freely.

I congratulate you on of your willingness to take a long, hard, honest look at yourself. It is one of the toughest things you will ever do. If you found value in these exercises take them to your coworkers. I would also recommend you bring these exercises to your family especially your children. Depending on their age, you may have to be a bit creative in your process.

Becoming clear on your values and developing a road map for your life's success is invaluable personally as well as professionally. As you continue to seek balance in your life you will find greater peace, health and prosperity.

You may want to begin your discussion with others by telling them how you have been evaluating what is important to you this Holiday Season, and go from there.

I wish you and yours a healthy, joyous Holiday Season and I hope to have the privilege of working with you in the New Year!

Thank you for being open to new possibilities.

If you would like to contribute an idea for an up coming article or want more information about the many services I provide including the You Are The Star food and beverage workshop, please visit my web site at www.PsCompetitiveEdge.com.

Until next time, continue to strive for excellence!

Peter Scott