New Year Dreams

Firstly HAPPY NEW YEAR Lovelies!!
I hope you all entered 2014 with a bang.

Always at this time of  year I think about where I want to be
one year from now.

For the last few years I've veered away from goals and resolutions;
I didn't want to feel like a failure when I didn't stick to my resolutions.



So I stuck with a mantra and focused on how I wanted to feel.
But I noticed something.
It was much easier to drift when I had no clear objectives;
 I didn't have to be accountable to anyone about anything. 
I could just do
as I pleased and "play" at progress.


I allowed myself this pleasure as I had made big changes
in my life in 2013 and I needed some time to re-set the balance.

However, this year I've decided the kid gloves must come off.
It's time to play big.

It's time to set objectives and I will work to achieve
them using the 80/20 rule.
It's time to stop wasting time with the unnecessary,
the time-wasting, the minutia details.

My new mantra (for my business objectives) will be:
Mantra 1:

Don't get me wrong, altho' I am thinking BIG
(and not keeping that fact to myself, which may be
a bad move) I will still nurture and renew as I go along.

On a personal level I have lots of little changes I would
like to make aiming
for the 80/20 rule:
*giving up wheat (currently reading the book
Wheat Belly and am horrified by what
I am reading)
*giving up the dreaded Diet Coke
*a green juice for breakfast every morning
*drinking more water
*making time to read 
(and not buying any more books until I 
finish all the ones I have. Does anyone else
buy books constantly? Is it a "medical condition"?
My husband seems to think so ;-)


*having one technology free day
*not checking emails until after 3pm
*stop the "compare and despair" that
platforms like Instagram allows to seep into 
the fibres of your soul
Did I say drink more water or chocolate?

I won't beat myself up when I make mistakes.
I won't label myself a failure just because one 
idea didn't work. 

But most importantly I will always try to be a 
better person than the day before



I will just work towards making things happen



However, I AM going to enjoy the journey also,
something I am guilty of not always doing ;-)
I usually battle my way to finish line 
only to move on to the next, big shiny thing.



And of course I won't forget to
try and sparkle all the way ;-)

I hope you will stay with me on
my journey.





I would love to hear what your thoughts, plans
objectives are for the forthcoming year.

xxxx

26 comments:

  1. I haven't really thought about any plans for this coming year. I think my daughters wedding is taking over everything to be honest. Lovely post and I must confess I rarely read these days, the blog takes up all my spare time although I was gifted the new Bridget Jones for Christmas and am trying to read a little each night when I go to bed xx Happy New Year! xx

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  2. Oh my goodness, Van! This could be my list as well! Sounds like we have quite a bit in common. :) I feel confident this will be our year to get it all figured out and on track though. I think mindset and intentions are so important. Thank you for sharing your goals for the year, this is great!

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    1. Ha! As you say mindset is SO important ( and still working on mine ;-)

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  3. Mon ami ... this reflects my thoughts for my life going into 2014 ... I did start adding a green smoothie to my day and am enjoying the boost of energy (even in just the first few days of the 2014). Career - has been a murkiness of "this n that" with no real passion and direction ... so along with cultivating a new life in the city I'm looking forward to gain a better understanding of what I want in a career... I'm happy to be able to have the energy to actually consider re-entering the work world. Hugs and blessings, C. (HHL)

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    1. Wow! That's a biggie Celia. I hope you share your journey with us xx

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  4. Vannessa, have you been reading my thoughts? Your list resembles mine so much it's incredible! (you've even listed things I wanted to, but didn't eventually...are we connected on some weird deep level? :)) I can only agree with your philosophy of bettering yourself every single day. There is only one thing I don't agree with completely: not buying more books! Impossible! Book hoarding is definitely a medical condition for me, and I don't do anything to stop it. Money spent on books is never ever money wasted! I probably stop buying more only when I'll be unable to sit down in my apartment because of them :) And even then I'll probably try to find a different solution :)

    Anyhow, I wish you the happiest and the most wonderful and successful 2014! May it be the best year yet!

    xx Ivana

    Macarons and Pearls

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    1. Ha! I said the same to Hubs when he tripped over another pile of books and he said "it's not buying books that makes the change, it's reading them" ;-)
      So I am going to try and cure my obsession by trying to read what I buy ;-)
      Happy NY Sweets xx

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  5. I'm afraid I'm keeping my kid gloves on, or maybe I don't feel ready to say my goals out loud. Much much Love,
    Coco
    Coco et La vie en rose
    Coco et La vie en rose on Bloglovin
    Coco et La vie en rose on Facebook

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  6. I love this and can totally relate to much of it. Oh, and I also constantly buy books, too many...Wish you the best year and let's follow eachothers progresses! xo Caroline

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  7. great post!!! wishing you all the very best in 2014!

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  8. I have actually been slowing down on books, after having hosted a book club since 2009, my home is starting to resemble Barnes & Noble!

    I have to make my Vision Board for 2014, usually I work on it New Year's Eve, but this year I didn't so I'm a bit late, but I stopped making resolutions ages ago and just alter my goal setting on my annual Vision Boards based on what has or hasn't come to pass and how I've changed since my last one.

    But if I had to actually 'name' a 'real' resolution it's to re-organize my entire space! :-)

    Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly
    http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com

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    1. Great ideas Tracy. I too have a Vision Board that just gets added too. I like to keep the images of the things I have achieved as a reminder of what's possible ;-)

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  9. Vanessa dear! You go girl!!! I love this post and all it represents. For me, doing too much in the last 3 months has put a hold on some of my big goals-at least it has forced me to be more purposeful and slow down a bit. #It's enough is my resolution-but only because I overdid and it took a toll on my health. For you-go girl! Cannot wait to see what this year brings.
    xx, Heather

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    1. Sorry to hear life has taken a bit of a toll Heather. Sending you hugs and make slowing down a real intention xx

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  10. Hi Vannessa, hope you had a wonderful start to 2014, may it bring you love, happiness, peace and success. I think each of your resolutions are do-a-ble, I wish i could adopt some of these thoughts as well...tech free days, compare and despair, not beating myself up for mistakes...brilliant list, I know you have the determination and resilience to achieve them all

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  11. Wow such a lovely post full of wisdom. U have a fabulous blog

    Btw i invite u to my new post
    Stay in touch
    Xx

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  12. Happy New Year, Vannessa! :) I loved reading this because I honestly feel the same way you do in so many areas. Especially: "It's time to stop wasting time with the unnecessary,
    the time-wasting, the minutia details." It's so easy to get caught up in what seems like an important issue at the moment only to realize it was minutia and a waste of time. I love your new mantra!

    One thing I've battled with is just what you've described on Instagram. I'm drawn to certain pages but at the same time it's a love/hate feeling because they are living the life of riches, $900 shoes, fancy trips, etc., all things that I quite honestly cannot afford with hubby having just got back on his feet after being a student for the past few years. It's that wanting feeling when I know they aren't things that are important or necessary. I think those feelings hold us back from enjoying what we have before us.

    Wishing you much success this year!

    P.S. I wanted to let you know that I've updated my blog button, if you'd like to update your sidebar, you can find the code in my sidebar.

    XO
    Karla

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  13. So true Karla. Instagram has been the catalyst of so much envy and self-doubt.
    Will update the button too xx

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  14. Hi Vanessa, I finally slowed down for a min. to catch up on your blog, which I have missed so very much. I have always loved your blog posts...and yes I totally agree "Mistakes mean you are trying". I so wish to manage time better this year. LOL Your blog is like a little dose of therapy for me. Thank you. xoxo
    Dee

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  15. Hapyy New Year! Lovely cosy images here and the first one is so magical. Great 2014 challenges for you and I should remember some of these too. I must not buy any more books until I have read the wonderful ones I received at Christmas!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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