This time of year, many of our thoughts turn to a new page for 2017. Everywhere I turn, I see lots of ideas for making 2017 the best year yet. What is it about the new year that inspires us to think fresh thoughts or vision? Is it the blank calendar in front of us? Is it that hope springs eternal? Or is it one more month to mark the years speeding by, the things we didn’t get done in 2016? Or the disappointments, losses and worries we may carry with us into the new year? Where are you on the continuum?
I have been absent from your in box for awhile. At the end of 2015, I retired due to health issues, mostly anxiety and depression. I wasn’t at all sure what 2016 would bring. Thankfully, I am back to health, writing and coaching!
What has made the difference? How can what I’ve learned perhaps make a difference for you? Here are 3 things that I have experienced lately may also help you find hope for 2017.
Listening to God
I began to listen more closely to God this fall. No revelations or anything especially spiritual beyond developing a closer relationship with Him. He says I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:14. When I operate in that belief system, I know I am loved and have gained confidence to move forward in other areas of my life. What are your experiences of listening?
Dreams, Desires and Longings
I then, began to dream of how I might create a safe space for women to discover their own vision, possibilities and passion for life that I was beginning to experience again.
A significant part of that dream came into focus by going on a week’s vacation with a good friend of mine.
We toured the western coast of Lake Michigan, went to her 50th class reunion and visited her old home place, among other childhood haunts. What was significant to me was the realization of how important women’s friendships are and the support and connections that women can give to each other – sisterhood if you will. Each of us need to find those women who love us unconditionally, create a safe space for us to be ourselves and an opportunity to explore our heart and passions.
Vision
I discovered I wanted to bring like-minded women together who were in search of dreams, vision and a change. By creating a safe space and setting aside some time together, we could listen to God, hear the desires and longings of our hearts and begin to build that community of sisters, that fostered hope.
I am so excited for 2017. One way we’ll explore fostering community is through a vision board workshop process which will be a way to bring like-minded women together around their desires and longings and starting a journey together.
A vision board helps us “see” what dreams God has put on our hearts and by doing so, we begin to “see” more the opportunities God puts in front of us. The visuals alert our brains more, much like when we buy a different car, we begin to see that car everywhere.
Once we have our vision, know our desires and longings, then we can work together in community to set our goals and action steps for each month as well as look at any beliefs that may pop up that interfere with our forward progress.
If this idea of a vision board excites you and you are ready for a change, then contact me. I have a vision board workshop coming up in January 21st and then we’ll move forward together from there.
This is your year to “clear out the gunk” in your life. Having a community of women working together in small groups or even one on one coaching can be powerful ways to hope. I look forward to hearing from you.
Nancy Booth is a certified life coach and certified brain-based coach. She loves creating safe spaces for women going through life’s transitions to discover and support their visions for health and well-being in an overwhelming world, explore possibilities for next steps and find hope. She writes about taming the overwhelm and reducing stress, looking for ways to motivate, energize and inspire you! You can sign up to receive her weekly blog or contact her to find out ways you can begin to shed overwhelm and stress. It’s time to explore possibilities of new relationships, better life pacing and gain hope and peace.