3 Vases, 3 Goals in 2019 – Using YearCompass in 2019 – In a Vase on Monday

It’s the time of year for resolutions; I’ve mentioned before I don’t really do resolutions, I prefer to think of intentions rather than ‘give something up’ or ‘start something’, it just leads to failure and disappointment usually by the second week of January 😉 (around now).  I try to avoid all the ‘new year, new me’ in the media too.  I’ve been working through my YearCompass Close 2018 Plan 2019 document – it helps me focus on dreams and intentions for 2019.

However I try daily changes, being mindful, being kind, trying new things (new podcasts, new meals, new music) and trying to avoid self-sabotage – I keep going, one step at a time. I’m hopeful…and I know tomorrow is another day…so I can start again.  I was struck by this quote:

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.” – Andrew Carnegie

It’s been windy and wet in Manchester this weekend so I ran out into the rain hunting for flowers or interesting plants for this week’s vase.  It has been very mild this Winter so plants have grown and flowered much later than they should have.  I spied a few flowers which really shouldn’t be flowering still. I picked:

• Rose hips – these are from the orange rose outside our front door – it appeared on the blog very often.
• Margarite – these flowers are from a pair of pots stashed away from the cold winds in our porch but it definitely shouldn’t be flowering this time of year.
• Fuchsia – these flowers are from the hardy fuchsia outside our kitchen window – again they shouldn’t be flowering in early January.
• Vases – LSA Chimney Vases – the largest is about 10cm high.  They’re very solid glasses. These vases were a Christmas present from My Chap. He’d noticed I use bud vases often and thought I’d like some more 🙂 What a diamond.

The weather was so wet and windy, I had to photograph indoors, which I hate doing as the light in our little house isn’t great on Winter days.

Do check out Cathy’s blog at Rambling in the Garden for more ‘In a Vase on Monday’ arrangements from around the world – some using vases and some not. There’s always something beautiful to lift your spirits – she has dried flowers this week and is also thinking of opportunities for 2019.

I’ve had the Dailygreatness Journal for a couple of years – I’m toying with using it for my blogging/consultancy work this year.  It’s very detailed so I’m not sure if it is quite what I need really. I tend to be a bit more free form with notes and plans – a diary on one side of the page and note page on the other.  I’m sad that Stigu aren’t making journals any more the combination of diary, notebook and mindfulness/wellbeing prompts really suited me.  I use Trello, google calendars, reminders and other electronic systems for my consultancy work.  I think I need to find another diary for work – the search continues.

DailyGreatness Journal, YearCompass 2019 document, Lensbaby Trio28 on Olympus, vase of yellow yellow marguerite daisy

YearCompass – Close 2018 Plan 2019 www.yearcompass.com

More than 1 million downloads since 2012.

What Is YearCompass?

YearCompass is a booklet that helps close your year and plan the next one. In the routine of everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of your true goals and aspirations. And even though we all have dreams, only a few of us plan for them. Effectively, at least. YearCompass works simply. Using questions and exercises rooted in psychology it takes you through the past year, then helps you turn your dreams into achievable goals. Quoted from – www.yearcompass.com used under Creative Commons

Despite having a horrible cold since early January – much coughing!   I’ve been working on my YearCompass document.  It’s a fascinating way looking at what happened in 2017 and closing off the year before identifying ideas and goals for 2019. Here are some of the questions to help you reflect on the past year – Closing 2018*

• wisest decision?
• biggest lesson I learnt?
• biggest surprise?
• most important thing I did for others?
• the biggest thing I completed?
• What are you most proud of?
• and many others…

Magical triplets for the year ahead*

As I mentioned there are topics for the year including:

• will love these three things about myself
• am ready to let go of these three things.
• want to achieve these three things the most.
• will have the power to say no to these three things
• shall do these three things every morning.
• and many others….

In 2019 I know that I’m focusing on:

Opportunity, Wellbeing, Growth

In these three main areas:

Health, Photography and my work/life balance

I’ll be writing about how I get on 🙂 I think I’ll be doing a quarterly update but I am doing well filling out the sections – progress.

YearCompass Close 2017 Plan 2018 – one year on

Last January 2018, I wrote about using YearCompass to close of 2017 and identify opportunities for 2018

• In-a-Vase-on Monday – Old Orange New Year Plans YearCompass Rose New 9 January 2018

2017 was the best of times of times and the worst of times – My Chap and I got married but my wonderful brother died suddenly far too young.  I discovered I had more resilience than I knew I had and Last January I filled out some of 2017 sections but couldn’t really identify many plans for 2018 apart from holiday ideas – it was just too complicated for my tired brain to look much beyond the next week or so. Much has changed since then and I am definitely back to my old self from a few years ago.

So I can say, 2018 was a good year on the whole with new opportunities and improvements in my health – I’m in much less pain than I was this time last year – which is a very good thing 🙂 We had a wonderful holiday to Australia in May – work options are much clearer, I’ve worked on this blog too.  My Photography has improved too – these were all things I’d mentioned in CompassYear 2017 2018.

*This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.*

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Monthly Goal Summary 2018-2019

For many years, I’ve written SMART goals for work projects, and have carried over into my home life. In Autumn 2018 I decided to write about them on my blog so I can be accountable to myself.  Here’s a summary so far:

• November 2018 Smart Goals consolidating learning, balance
• December 2018 Smart Goals – focus, reflect, relax

Carpe Diem – Seize the Day

For me it means ‘focus on the moment’, focus on what you can do next, what you can do today (and tomorrow – as it’s a new day). It’s important to remember:

Don’t quit your daydreams

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What are your goals for 2019?  How will YOU seize the day? What is YOUR dream? Do you use a planner or workbook? let me know in the comments.

Carpe Diem,

Love Bec xx xx xx