I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, with family, friends and whoever made it special for you.   Christmas and life can get really busy, so I thought it was a timely moment to write a mini blog about the power of stopping.  The power of taking a moment to reflect on what you have achieved this year, what you wish you could do and what you would like to change? 

And in this moment, just be.  Switch off your social media and phone for a day at least, go for big walks, eat quality, fresh foods, hydrate & reflect.  You may be surprised by what you learn, and even if you are not surprised I know you will gain from a moment in time to just reflect. 

I have been up in the Bonnie Land of Scotland on the farm, it is a beautiful, peaceful place where simple living, simple food and good times are key.  It is always a welcome tonic and balance to reflect and re energise.   I like to practise what I advice, and so this is my time out to rebalance and plan for 2013. 

At the same time I have read two really interesting articles, one in the Harvard Business Review about Not Setting Goals, click here to have a read: http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2012/12/consider-not-setting-goals-in.html?cm_mmc=email-_-newsletter-_-you_at_work-_-you_at_work122612&referral=00211&utm_source=newsletter_you_at_work&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=you_at_work122612 

The other was randomly in Muscle and Fitness Magazine,  with an interview from Strictly Come Dancing’s Natalie Lowe (www.natalielowe.com), about the importance of taking time out, listening to your body, and training effectively & positively, it is a good read, check it out Jan 2013 UK edition. 

So whilst I energise, plan, create and spend quality time with family, running about the farm, I will leave with you a thought from a teacher who sent me a card, when I must have been about 16 that I found at home.  I had been told that my ideas were a little ambitious…

‘Somebody said it could not be done, but she, with a chuckle replied, that maybe it couldn’t but she wasn’t the one to say so until she had given it a go…. so she buckled right down with a trace of a grin, and is she worried she hid it, and she started to sing as she tackled the thing that couldn’t be done,and she did it…’ 

So whatever you think about doing, or think you could never do…. Take a moment to reflect on why, take a moment to start to be kind to yourself, to nuture yourself and then as the New Year dawns focus on defining your best year yet, representing the best version possible of you 🙂 

With much Energised Support always, Kim #teamenergised13 @kimingleby on Twitter 🙂  

ps. Make 2013 Brilliant Workshop on Sunday 13th Jan, Bristol has a little space if you want to join us let me know