Just when Christmas is over and all you want to do is kick back and relax, how many of you are feeling pressure to create New Year's resolutions? Or, how many of you are resisting the idea altogether? Either way, the process (as we usually go through it) doesn't seem very appealing or creative, does it? At best, it seems like too much work and at worst, it seems like a sure path to failure. I don't know about you, but I'm not interested in deliberately setting myself up to fail.

Like many of you, I gave up making up New Year's resolutions a long time ago for many of the same reasons. They don't work. I didn't KEEP them. Most of my resolutions had me "shoulding" all over myself and how much fun is THAT?

Last year I tried something different and I'm in the process of doing it again this year. Why? Because it worked and it was a LOT of fun. I'm planning my journey through 2007 just like I'd plan a trip.

If I could take a trip to anywhere, where will I be by December 31st? What would I like to experience? Who would I like to meet? What great memories would I like to create? What kind of fun would I like to have? Who can I invite along? How much money will I need to have a really fun time? What do I need to do physically to be in shape for the trip? What things to I need to learn to get to my destination?

The thing that's great about a trip is that no matter how you plan it, there will be unexpected surprises along the way. Some things may not work out exactly like you planned. Some things may turn out even better. And just like a trip, you never know exactly how it will go no matter how carefully you plan it. The best you can do is get into the "experience" of it.

Great trips take you out of your every day world and put you into a completely different place. Isn't that the best part? Some trips are going to be really ambitious and some are going to be more like weekend getaways. It doesn't matter as long as you are having fun creating your trip just the way you'd like it to go.

The most fun part is that when you envision your trip, the actions (goals) fall out naturally. And they don't seem like "shoulds" any more. Even if some actions don't seem like fun, you're willing to do them because accomplishing them gets you more excited about the trip. The following paragraph is an example of what I'm writing as the vision for my year 2007 "trip". You can design your own process, but I'm including this to give you some ideas for how to get started. This paragraph is written as if the trip is complete and I'm sharing what actually happened:

"My coaching practice expanded exponentially this year. I completed phases two and three of my TriMetrix Certification which added immensely to my credibility as a coach. I attended the Winter Winners Conference in February where I made some fabulous new contacts. I had a great time re-visiting Phoenix, connecting with old friends and making new friends and alliances. I've met and exceeded my financial goal for the year and it all happened effortlessly. My clients are so excited by the results they are getting that they are referring me to their friends and colleagues. My heart is full of gratitude for all the good things that have come my way this year."

Can you identify the specific goals in my vision? Can you see how actions fall out naturally? There is work to be done but there are rewards built in along the way too. That helps keep everything in balance.

I've created similar "visions" for other aspects of my journey, including health, finances, relationship, spirituality, and recreation. Last year, I posted my vision by my computer where I could read it every day. I could feel the anticipation build as I dreamed my trip and felt the joy of accomplishing each step along the way.

Not everything I planned for 2006 happened. Some things happened that weren't on the itinerary. Isn't that what generally happens on a trip? Aren't those the things that keep the trip interesting?

I'm carrying the incomplete pieces of my vision over into 2007. I'm not beating myself up or feeling bad about what I didn't accomplish. I have a coach too, and I am working with him on the places where I get stuck or stopped, and he reminds me to celebrate the things I DID accomplish rather than focusing on what didn't happen.

Now you know how you can toss out those resolutions in favor of taking a trip. Where would YOU like to go in 2007?

Sue Koch
Career and Life Design Coach