Happy New Year! Have you thought about your plans for 2019 and what you want to accomplish in business and life? Today’s post is the kick start you need to get it going. Wishing you a year filled with everything you desire. Starting now.

If you spend any amount of time online, gratitude pushers are prolific. And to be honest, I usually ignore them. It’s not that I’m not grateful. It’s that I don’t particularly care to have it stuffed down my throat at every click.

And yet here I am now sharing my lessons in gratitude.

Lessons in Gratitude

In November, my sister Alicia and I spent the weekend after Thanksgiving at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, MA. It is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and make plans for the future.

During our stay, we attended a workshop on gratitude.

While the teacher asked us to write a list of what we are grateful for today, she also asked us to write about the future. Specifically she asked, “What will you be grateful for one year from now?”

So, we spent the next five or six minutes writing about future gratitude. “Write about whatever comes up,” she said. “No edits. No stopping. Simply let the words flow.”

Here is (an abridged version of) what I wrote. No edits. No stopping. Simply letting words flow:

I’m so glad I decided to create two women’s retreats on leadership and communication so women can step into their power more fully, gain clarity, support and use their voice more boldly. I love how much my coaching and facilitation services have grown beyond the South Shore into all of New England, and how people recognize “Engage The Room” as the specialist in Women’s Leadership programs.

I’ve met so many great people through my podcast – “Engaging Voices” – and gained a committed following online and through events. I am so glad I found my work home: helping women be more dynamic leaders. That my job is about creating connections makes my heart sing.

Gratitude & Vulnerability

I’m not going to lie. Writing this paragraph – back in November and sharing it with you today – feels extremely vulnerable. There are so many “what if’s” attached to the future vision. It’s bold and it scares me a little. And that’s the point.

If we’re not learning, expanding, and growing in our role – then what are we doing? We’re stagnant, bored, and uninspired. And that means the people we work with – clients, employees, vendors – may feel the same when in our presence.

In order to feel the above gratitude in real life, and not just in a notebook, I need to work hard to bring the vision to life. I need to plan, promote, and dance with fear. Because otherwise, in the end, the only person I’ll let down is me.

Where Are You Going in 2019?

Do you have resolutions or a list of things you want to do in 2019? Or maybe you’re moving full speed into the new year without taking time to reflect on what you actually want to accomplish.

As leaders in business and life, we must have a vision. We need to know where we want to go, tell others where we’re going and take steps to make it happen. For me, that means planning these events – including marketing, finding a location, creating curriculum, selling seats, logistics, etc.

What does that mean for you?

Gratitude: One Year From Now

So, today I leave you with an invitation. To ask yourself:

What will I be grateful for one year from now?

Grab a notebook, set a timer for six minutes (or longer, that’s up to you) and write. No edits, no stopping, simply let the words flow. Let it surprise you, let it inspire you, let it be bold and let it scare you a little. Then, share it with someone else to make it real.

Together, let’s make 2019 the year to take more risks, create positive change and bring ideas to life.

Your voice matters. Keep shining.

What will you be grateful for one year from now? Leave a comment or send me an email. I’d love to know where you’re going in 2019.