Wasn’t ‘09 the wackiest year ever? I don’t ever remember welcoming in a new year with more passion for it’s possibility’s, because for me ’09 definitely qualifies for ”Out With the Old”, and if you didn’t have some personal breakthroughs or wake up calls, you must have lived in a different economy than the rest of us.
There is one thing that is positive about scarcity driven economy. What is that? The chance to reinvent yourself! I am grateful for that. I’m grateful for other things, too. One is my skill-set and two is my circle of friends and relationships. Here are some ways to either change your life-circumstance or general disposition for 2010.   I say it is time to break on through to the other side. When? NOW!

For the last 18 years I have used and taught these simple principles that are not only effective but practical as well. Here are my Five Points of Power for the New Year:

1) Pay Attention to Your Life
Seems simple, yet so many things can take you by surprise. The concept of Paying Attention is a command to yourself to be more observant of your place in the world. This concept has many levels to it and starts with paying attention to your self-talk, your choices, and circumstances.  You aren’t a victim. You are always at choice. There is always a cause and affect to everything. You have three things to spend in your life. Money, time and energy. Pay attention to how you spend all three. The more you value these three things, the more time and money you will spend on them. Ask yourself this, “Is it worth it”? Focus on really being aware of your thoughts, how you see yourself, how you’re interacting with others, and catching yourself when you’re “off” or not paying attention to what you value. 

2) Keep Your Agreements
Avoid the taking of an “emotional cash advance”. What is an emotional Cash advance?  It’s one of those agreements that you make that you can’t, or won’t keep.  Sure, it buys you time now, put you will pay for it in the future by loss of respect or a weakening of relationship with the person you made the agreement with.  Remember Wimpy who always said “I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”  Well, Wimpy, when Tuesday comes and you can’t pay me, you have broken your agreement, and I’ll trust you less and less as the Tuesdays go by.  There is great power in learning to be your word and keeping your agreements.  We really have very little else to offer other people but the integrity of our word. This is what builds trust and relationship retention!  This does not mean that you have to take on agreements that are not good for you.  You should evaluate very closely the things you agree to, and not use the words or concept of “I will try”, or “I’m working on it”.  When you say those phrases, you are really saying “I don’t value this enough to make it happen.”  What you should say instead is “YES I will do it”, or “NO, I will not do it,” and then keep your agreement!  Now that isn’t to say that you can’t renegotiate an agreement but you have to be sure the other party is aware of it and agrees also.  Don’t make an agreement if you know you can’t (or won’t) keep it.

3) Speak the Truth. As You Know it
Speaking the truth is not about saying everything that comes into your mind or sharing everything about what you are doing, thinking, or feeling.  Don’t confuse it with brutal honesty, because these are two completely separate consciousnesses. Discretion is always called for when communicating with other people. Honor people’s human spirit in communication.  You should be able to give people honest information about them when it is appropriate, or about yourself and what you are doing.  People appreciate you more when you keep it real, and authentic. You will get more respect, personal fulfillment, and be happier because you are honest with yourself and with others.



4) Ask for What You Want
Most people are very bad at asking for what they want. This sounds like alien talk to some. They hedge a lot of the time and give out very bad messages about what they would like and don’t like.  It is very confusing to others. There are many reasons why people do this, including being told as a child not to ask for things.  Give people a chance to give you what you want by asking for it, but you also have to be ready to take “no” with dignity if they refuse.  I truly believe the “no” just means that something is missing.  You will be surprised how often people are willing to give you what you want when you are clear about it.  Think about it . . . People will either say “yes” or “no”, but it will always be “no” if you don’t even ask!

5) Be Accountable for Your Own Life
Sometimes people really shy away from being accountable. It’s a lot easier to not be accountable, but you are really missing personal power, when you aren’t accountable to yourself or those people you are in relationship with.  Don’t put excuses on your emotional credit card.  Instead, hold yourself to a standard of integrity, because it’s your life!  Blaming other people for your own choices in life is very destructive of your personal power.  Taking full accountability for your choices in life lets you understand that you are free to make many more powerful choices.  Life is not based on the choices you have already made, but on the choices you are about to make about yourself right now. As the oracle says in the “The Matrix 2, the Reload,”  “You have already made the choice.”   Be powerful in your choices.  Choose the highest good for all and human spirit. If you look at it that way, there is no wrong choice. As Pumba eloquently states it in The Lion King. “Put your past in your behind”, or as you or I would say it, ”put your past behind you”.
Break on through with power and a point! 2010 is ready for the new you.

If you would like to have breakthrough and find out more register for the Breakthrough Weekend. www.breakthroughweekend.eventbright.com or visit me at www.inspiringthehumanspirit.com