With 2016 drawing to a close, there's a natural tendency to reflect on the past year. As part of my own yearly practice, I ask myself a set of questions that help me to honor and celebrate the past year.
This blog post, and the ones I will post over the next few weeks, contain these very questions I ask myself at the end of every year. I encourage you to join me by setting aside some time every week to contemplate and journal your answers to these questions. Here's one of the key questions: What surprised you in 2016? You probably started off this past January with a set of intentions and knowing that certain things would happen. Maybe you had a particular goal to accomplish. Perhaps you had a travel destination planned. As usually happens, though, surprises emerge. Unplanned events, major upsets, significant delights...all of these are elements in the cycle of Life itself. So...what surprised you? There are a few different ways to reflect on your surprises. One way is to do a chronological review. Bring your mind back to January and recollect the events that happened in your life. Then move to February and so on. You can look through your calendar as you do this if you need some help remembering all the things that happened. Another way to contemplate your surprises in 2016 is to examine the different areas of your life. These include: love, relationships, career, home, creative expression, wealth, finances, health, spirituality, service, community, travel, self-care, education, politics, world affairs, and many others. You can make a diagram of these words and see what happened in each of these areas of life. As you reflect on all the surprises that showed up for you in 2016, I invite you to dig a little deeper and answer these questions:
Surprises are one of the great reminders that Life unfolds in ways that you might not imagine. Past does not always equal Prologue. There are infinite possibilities always revealing. Lastly, see if you can uncover a sense of gratitude for these surprises, particularly for those surprises that may not feel so good. If anything, the "not-so-good" surprises create an opening for you to respond and to show up in a greater, more loving way. For the next few blog posts, I'll share other questions that will help you to reflect on 2016. If you can, save your responses and recollections because we'll be building upon what you came up with here. I'd love to hear what some of your surprises were in 2016, and what gifts or lessons you are seeing within these surprises. Please feel free to share in the comments below. 
Special Note:
I’m putting together an online class called “Vision Your Best 2017.” If you’re interested in getting notified when this program is available, fill out the form here. You’ll also get notified of the early bird special.  This week in the United States, many people come together as family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving, you have an opportunity to acknowledge what you are grateful for in your life. Gratitude is a simple, yet powerful, spiritual practice. What’s great is that you can do it at any place and any moment of the day, no matter where you may be. Go ahead. Try it out. Bring to mind one thing that you are grateful for. Take your time. No matter how big or small, what is one thing you are grateful for? As this comes to mind, breathe it in. Now ask yourself this question: Why are you grateful for this? When you move into the why, you begin to uncover the layers for what matters deeply to you. As you touch on the feelings of what gives you meaning, allow for the feeling of gratitude to grow within you. Let the feeling of gratitude envelop your entire being. Breathe. Let this feeling of thanksgiving expand within you and let it fill the surrounding space so that you emulate an energetic field of gratitude. When you’re ready, come back and notice if you feel any different. Are you lighter? Are you feeling more expansive? How would your life be different if you spent your day walking and breathing gratitude? One of the questions I am often asked is what spiritual practice someone can use to better embrace a prosperity and abundance consciousness. My answer is gratitude. Here’s why:
In this spirit of gratitude, let me say to you personally that I am grateful for you. I am grateful for the presence of your Spirit and for the uniqueness that you bring to this world. You are truly a blessing. Thank you for being you. I’d love to hear what you are grateful for. Please share by leaving a comment below. Namaste and Abundant Blessings.  Note: During these holidays, if you’re feeling the need for healing dialogue or support in your life, I offer a 20 minute complimentary assessment that may provide you with the resources you need in this moment. To request this assessment, click here.  In this post-election world, I’ve talked with many people who’ve been feeling un-grounded, frightened, weary, anxious and deflated. I’ve also talked with people who’ve been feeling joyful, elated, relieved and hopeful.
Yet, in the midst of all these differing feelings and perspectives, there is an acknowledgement and agreement on one thing: The world as we knew it is changing. Business as usual is now business as unusual. Systems and ways of being are now being questioned. People are coming face to face with their deepest values and expressing their voices. Something new is seeking to emerge. We are undergoing a process of transformation. When transformation occurs, one of the beginning stages is a breaking down of systems, structures, habits and ways of being. This is necessary in growth. The process isn’t always easy, and it sometimes hurts. A lot. On a personal level, this can show up as someone suddenly feeling unfulfilled with their job. A once-valued relationship could be ending. Severe health issues can suddenly manifest. On a societal level, this can show up as massive shifts in power and challenges to institutional structures. And yet, the breakdown creates an opening. The energy used to prop up the old ways of being is now freed up. The breakdown eventually leads to the breakthrough. In a breakthrough, you realize that what you once saw as a problem has now become a challenge. Better yet, it’s now an opportunity. You realize you are not powerless in this situation and you get to decide how you move forward from this. You are being called to be an active agent in this creation. The question arising now becomes, “What ultimately matters?” In this context, here’s the question I ask you: What kind of world are you building? And when I use the word “world,” I mean not only your personal world, but also the world around you, which include the communities you belong to and the planet earth itself. We are living in a time period where major disruption is occurring and a great creative energy is now unleashing. You have the ability to harness this energy and focus it in a way that transforms you and the world around you. You are in the driver’s seat. Where is your destination? I would love to hear your thoughts about today’s blog post. Please leave a comment below and share with others in community. |
About JoselitoJoselito is a spiritual life coach helping people create a purposeful, spiritual path to career and financial freedom. Sign me up to receive the free newsletterPopular Blog Articles Beware (Be Aware of) these 5 Unhelpful Money Stories How my body told me to quit my job How I was offered an all-expenses paid cruise after making my Vision Board Today I choose to live my GREATNESS You are not your stories. You are the story-teller. Your job is not your Source. |
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