As we welcome 2018, I know many of us might be reflecting on our intentions for what we want to create and experience this coming year. I do believe writing down our goals with respect to our professional or even personal lives can be a very powerful exercise.
In my case, one clear goal on my list is to publish my very first book, Physician, Heal Thyself: My Journey from Medicine to Miracles. I also have other goals with respect to growing and sharing Coaching for Inner Peace with a wider audience.
However, for this New Year’s message I don’t feel inspired to focus on ‘doing more.’ I think we all know that no matter how much we ‘do’ there is always more ‘to do’! ? While ‘to do’ lists surely have their place in our increasingly complex lives, today I want to share something that I learned from one of my teachers, Jerry Jampolsky MD- starting each day with a ‘to be’ list. I felt inspired to start 2018 this way.
So here is my ‘To Be’ list for 2018:
- To be happy.
- To be grateful.
- To be at peace.
- To be honest about my feelings when I am not feeling happy, grateful or at peace.
- To be clear that I do desire to feel happy, grateful and at peace.
- To be willing to ask for help from my Inner Guide to help me see things differently so I can once again feel happy, grateful and at peace. (Note: This may include an idea or some guidance from my Inner Guide about ‘doing’ but it comes first from a space of being and listening for that small still voice.)
- And finally, to be willing to be present to others so I may be an instrument though which this happiness, gratitude and peace can be shared and extended.
I know this sounds like a ‘simple’ list. There are no weekly goals, or monthly assessments, or 3-month or 6-month target goals or reviews. It is so simple that even a child could understand. It may also sound so simple that our complex ego mind could resist it and try to find holes in why this would not work.
All I can say is that this New Year – like all others prior- will certainly also be one of ‘going there, coming here and doing this or that.’ How can it not be when we are in this earthly form? But, my deepest desire is to also devote this year to ‘Being’ – and not just ‘doing.’ It is my sincere desire that you will also join me in ‘Being’ happy, peaceful and grateful while you are also ‘doing.’ ?
Wishing you all a joyous, prosperous, and divinely blessed 2018!
