WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE? How About Doing a Fun Coaching Process?

Remember the old song with the lyrics, “What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve?”?  Although that song has nothing to do with coaching it comes to mind when thinking of a great coaching process that is especially effective when done on New Year’s Eve.  Of course, it can be done any day of the year, but it is a special way to end the year and be ready to start the New Year. 

Basically, the process is about releasing and letting go of what will not serve you in the New Year.  It will help identify what you will leave behind and not drag into the New Year with you—freeing you for a New Year filled with possibilities.  This coaching practice also helps you pinpoint  what you want or need to take with you into the New Year—what you still want or need to improve, practice, strive for, learn from, etc.  If you follow the instructions below, you will gain clarity as the process unfolds.

So, are you up for it?  There’s bound to be some time you can carve out tomorrow on New Year’s Eve.  We encourage you to “have fun with this” because if you get too serious, it may seem like a daunting task and you may find yourself resisting it completely.

Start by sitting down with pen and paper in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.  List all the events, situations, problems, goals, desires, etc. that you experienced in 2008.  Just go with whatever comes to mind whether you viewed the situation as good or bad.

Your next step is to go down the list, look at each item and ask yourself if you are “complete” with that item.  By “complete” we mean are you ready to release it?  If it was an event or situation that you deemed good, are you finished celebrating it and are ready to allow new good to enter your life?  If it was something you regard as bad, are you finished obsessing about it—do you still have strong emotions that need to be worked out?  With all situations, ask yourself if you have learned from it?  If so, are you applying the learning?  Is there more for you to do about this item?  Are you truly ready to release it?  You can ask yourself any other questions that seem appropriate for you.

As you go down your list, draw a line through the ones you are ready to release.  When finished with that list, on a clean sheet of paper list the ones you are not ready to release.  Look at each one separately and begin to reflect on what you still need relative to that item.  The ones on this list are the ones you will take into the New Year with you.  Perhaps there is a goal where you can take new action or a problem that you can approach in a new way.  Remember, what didn’t work in 2008 probably won’t work in the New Year either—think out of the box.

If you need more time than you have on New Year’s Eve, do not worry.  You can continue to reflect on these items that you are taking into the New Year any time at all.  It can be an ongoing process.  The ones on this list can also be released at any time in the future—you don’t have to wait until next New Year’s Eve!

Best Wishes and Happy New Year

Lynn and Julie