New year. Fresh Perspectives.

Conversations are powerful vehicles for change when our hearts are open, and a recent one with my buddy has resonated within my soul so much this week.  The conversation revolved around trying to repeat the successes of the previous year and how much pressure there is to continue to impel ourselves forward–either inside or outside pressures.  But it sort of struck me these last few days that life is not always well-lived in the repeating of successes or even the constant push.  Life is not a repeat or a 3-peat or whatever-peat year to year.  And, it’s beyond the goals and the recognition; it’s in the intention–the choice of what we want our year to look like and what and how we choose depends on where we are in that moment.  Each year can look so completely different from the previous one. Sometimes we need to just breathe. For a week or a month or for an entire year.  But that choice to just breathe can be so freeing because it’s making the conscious choice to bring our life back to center.  And some years provide the strength and courage and opportunities to push farther and harder and with more strength than the previous year.  We are ready.  But, each of these choices is gifts and provide everything that we need in that moment….success, achievement, strength, passion….or just breath.

We can never doubt our own ability to bring it back to center.  We can never doubt our ability to achieve. New can never doubt our ability to love fully. We can never doubt what it feels like to say no for our hearts or for our family. We can never doubt what it feels like when that grace we give reaches the hurting inside.  And we can never doubt what it feels like to always stand our ground where hope can be found.

So as I am standing in the doorway of 2015, I am ready for what lies ahead of me.  I have turned the page.  2014 has been written, and I am proud of my year.  I am proud of what was created and harnessed and achieved and loved and nurtured. I am proud of the lessons learned and the grace I received. But most of all, I am proud that I never doubted my ability to bring it back to center.  So as the calendar flips to a new year, I challenge you to create your year for you….a year chock full of goals and successes, or a year to simply breathe in the simplicity and to leave the challenges behind for a little while.

And as we close 2014 and open our hearts to the possibilities that 2015 holds, I leave you with what one of my favorite yoga instructors says to close his classes…. peace and victorious you. Namaste.