It's that time of year again. The time we all vow to be healthier, lose weight and change things that we want to change. New Year's resolutions are a joke.. as change is just something that occurs when you do it, rather than on a specific date.

But 2015? It's a big year for me. It marks the 40th year of me being alive.

40. Yea. Officially middle aged? This big decade number where we take stock of our life... The "How did I get here?" year.... I don't think I'm "freaking out," just more ready to move forward.

A few weeks ago I was reminded of a fabulous class Nicole and I went to called "the Happiness Bootcamp" lead by Stacie Somers. During the class, which was focused on helping you create a vision board for the year, Stacie suggested finding a THEME for the year instead of making resolutions. Words or a simple phrase that you will strive to achieve, and build your vision board around them. I loved this idea. Resolutions are so finite... and so breakable. But a THEME can grow and change over the year.

But how do you FIND your theme? Here is an exercise that we did to figure it out.

Rules:

1- Re-Write these questions down using your dominant hand (your normal writing hand - for most of us, the right hand.)

2) Answer the questions writing with your SUB-dominant hand (for most, the left hand)

Crazy, huh? But using your "other hand" triggers parts of your brain that you normally are not using and really helps with figuring these things out.

Questions:

1) How do I want to experience the world this year?

2) What do I yearn to have more of in my life?

3) What do I need in my life?

4) What was missing from my life last year?

5) What would it feel like to have these missing things in my life this year?

Now, did you notice something in your answers? A recurring theme or words that stick out more than others? Use those to create your personal theme. It can be one or two words, it can be a phrase... but use that to build your vision board and guide your year.

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I went into this exercise this year thinking my words were going to be more centered around acceptance - something I've been consciously working on, and was a little surprised that my sub-conscious mind went more to peace, calm and being positive. But I started thinking about it, and a life that is peaceful and positive does sound perfect to me. The word excitement sneaked in there as well - and I see that as being to be excited about my life again.

So here is to 2015... and the excitement it holds.

HipMamaB

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