It's a New Year. Time to jump right into action for a successful 2015 and just forget about 2014.   Right? Wrong!

According to the transition model coined by best-selling author William Bridges, we must adequately end something in order to have a new beginning.  In fact, every ending signals a new beginning. The essence of the transition process lies in that statement. The ending is critical, because without a proper completion there cannot be a successful new beginning.

Reflecting and remembering the good, the bad, the happy and sad experiences of 2014 will help you 'complete' the year and leave you unencumbered as you move into a bright and joyful new year of possibility. Reflection and completion will help create the mental bandwidth to explore new concepts and to dream new dreams.  

I have created a Reflection Guide that will walk you through a Recap, Reflection and Completion process to help you 'finish' the year past. Click here to download the pdf 8-Page 2014 Reflection Guide.

As you reflect, be sure to release any self-judgment. The exercises are simply an acknowledgement of what was. All of your experiences and learnings in 2014 will help shape your 2015. Be grateful for them all. "Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melodie Beattie

When you are finished answering the questions in the guide, read them over, and reflect. Take time to fully acknowledge and celebrate your "Woo Hoo!" moments. Take time to fully acknowledge and feel your disappointments or losses. Listen to your thoughts, acknowledge your feelings, but don't dwell on them - there is a difference between denial and transcendence. Sit with your lists for as long as you need to.  And then say goodbye to them and move on to creating your brilliant 2015 year of possibility.      

The key point is to mark the ending officially and be sure not to rush through the ending. You won't move into the future as successfully (or as quickly) until you complete.  

When you have fully completed 2014 and are ready to move forward, turn your focus to the year ahead. Dream about the possibilities for your life this year. If anything were possible without limitation...what would this year hold? What would you do? How would you feel?  What future state (emotional, mental or physical) do you want to create?

I have created a Visioning and Planning Guide to walk you through a step by step process to dream, imagine and clarify your vision for 2015.  Click here to download the pdf 11-page 2015 Personal Visioning and Planning Guide.

When you work through the guide and design your vision be sure to keep your thoughts and discussions very firmly focused in the what you want for the future rather than what you don't want.  Resist the urge to get caught up in the "HOW" ; just keep dreaming while in the visioning phase. Amazingly, the Universe seems to respond simply to the energy created by naming a dream and writing it down. If you can share your dreams aloud with a partner or a friend it will add another level of energy to that dream. There will be plenty of time to drill down the specific actions later on.    

As you jot your visioning thoughts down in writing, keep them in the present tense - like it is Dec. 31, 2015 and you are describing your life as it IS right now.   (I am peaceful, I am doing a lot of laughing, my business is wildly successful, I am spending my weekends outdoors in the mountains, I am healthy and filled with energy etc.)

Even the most highly-motivated need support to turn their vision into reality. It takes energy, courage and commitment to make significant life change. Set yourself up for success by getting an accountability partner - someone with whom you can share your vision and plans and who will continue to check-in about your progress all year.

We know the stats - only 12% of us will keep our goals, resolutions and New Year's commitments past January. Starting your year with a full completion and acknowledgement of the year passed, followed by creation of a limitless vision of possibilities for the year ahead and then getting the support to keep your vision present will ensure you are part of the 12%.

Jan Carley is a Professional Certified Executive Coach credentialed with the International Coach Federation. Known as a high-performance catalyst, Jan specializes in coaching individuals and teams to focus and clarify their vision and leverage their signature strengths to open possibilities and maximize their performance potential. Jan's book, Harmony from the Inside Out, has been acclaimed worldwide and is now in its 3rd printing. Jan is Associate Faculty of the renowned Royal Roads University Executive Coaching Program and a certified facilitator of the Strength Deployment Inventory ™ .  
Jan lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and is available for individual & team coaching, workshops and speaking engagements worldwide. 

Contact Jan at 604 873-1763    email: jan@creativecoachinggroup.com