Wow, time flies

Wow! How did it get to be December 21 already??

In my den, I use a dry-erase wall calendar that lets me see my year at a glance. Yesterday I took the time to wipe away 2016 and get set for 2017.

Yes, I believe in living in the moment - but I also believe in being practical and doing what you can to plan ahead.

So where's your head right now?

• Are you pushing like mad to get the most out of 2016 before the ball drops in Time Square on New Year's Eve?
• Are you already in 'holiday mode' and have taken your foot off the gas and are planning to coast into the new year?
• Or maybe you're already dreaming and scheming about the life you're going to choose for yourself in 2017.

Seriously! In order to combat the 'holiday slide', I suggest you put together a small mastermind group of people who want to get a jump on 2017.

Imagine how much further ahead you will be on New Year's Day if you start now!

Thinking of new beginnings

For many people this season is all about new beginnings.  As we move to the end of the year, we start planning New year's resolutions and promises that "from now on, things will be different".

Right now, your social media feeds are probably full of pictures of people at the gym, doing a juice cleanse, and generally trying to make sweeping changes in their lives.

If you're on of those people - GREAT!! I'm cheering for you.

For the rest of here is a suggestion:

Change can be still be meaningful if it is done in small steps.

Think of one small change you can easily make in your life.  Not a massive overhaul of everything. Nothing that involves new memberships or equipment. Just one small change.

• ·       Drink more water.
• ·       Go to bed 15 minutes earlier.
• ·       Spend 10 minutes doing something in a meditative state of mind.

Or anything else you can think of that isn't difficult to do and that you can see yourself doing with some real consistency.

Yes, the big, actions get all the glamour and glory - but sometimes it's the small actions that form the foundation for the bigger shifts and changes.

How do you value knowledge?

Growing up in a working class family, my parents put a very high value on education and knowledge. I still value knowledge, and I place an incredibly high value on "knowing". Not just knowing, but doing something with the knowledge gained.

Maybe it's the "wisdom with age" finally kicking in, but now I'm starting to shift my thinking a bit. Yesterday something interesting occurred to me and I wanted to share it with you.

"Many of us focus on knowing, but knowing without doing prevents us from growing."

Here's my thinking... I can only "know" something that already exists. But the more I focus on doing I become open to not only knowing at an intellectual level, but also at an emotional and personal level.

By doing I am forced to grow and the more I open myself up to expanding beyond what exists. Or to experiencing my knowledge in a new way and sharing it with others.

Does this sound familiar?

One week until Xmas, and here is some something to think about.

Doses this sound familiar: I'm my own worst critic"?

When I look at my life, I've spent a crazy amount of time beating myself up. Sometimes it's not too bad - I'm simply challenging myself to do better next time.  But other times I'm much harsher with myself. 

Why does this happen, there are many reasons for this, one is I listen to the voices in my head that I heard as I grew up. Voices that I internalised over the years and even if I think I have banished them, they come back to haunt me.

Another reason is that I may hold myself to an impossibly high standard. Maybe it's because I occasionally feel nervous about writing this blog, every day.  That's when I catch myself saying:

"Who am I to be giving suggestions or advice? My life isn't perfect."

“Will anyone bother to read what I have written or care what I have said?”

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who beats himself up from time to time.

So, let's all agree that we're allowed to make mistakes.  We're allowed to not have it all figured out and we're allowed to be less than perfect.  I won't judge you and you won't judge me and together we'll agree to give ourselves a break and show ourselves some forgiveness, love and kindness. 

I can do this because I am in the final phase of my life, and I realise that life is great and I have to take life as it happens.  And for the rest of you isn't giving ourselves the gift of forgiveness a wonderful Xmas present?