| Top tips for making 2008 your best parenting year yet! | | | | year. Once you have written this list, look at it first thing |
| Happy New Year! | | | | in the morning and last thing at night. Keep it |
| As the clock ticked down the old year and we all | | | | somewhere handy or pop it up somewhere where |
| awaited the arrival of a brand new 2008, I begun to | | | | you can see it easily. |
| wonder what all the people around me truly wished for | | | | Just read your goals to yourself slowly and deliberately |
| deep down in that very quiet place where dreams, | | | | and start to relax and imagine them happening in great |
| hopes and wishes really live. You know the place | | | | detail. See what you see, hear what you hear and feel |
| where we don't always reveal our true desires to | | | | how great you feel as you start to see these things |
| others in case we sound silly, foolish or vulnerable. | | | | happening for real in your life. Be as detailed as |
| But if we want to be a co-creator of our own | | | | possible in your pictures and make them really bright |
| universe and family life we must make plans with a | | | | and colourful. |
| purpose in order to manifest the destiny that that we | | | | Let the list of goals go into your unconscious mind |
| foresee for ourselves and let go of our fear of | | | | through the repetition of reading them a couple of |
| sounding silly. I call it "creating dreams.... with a date" and | | | | times each day ( I often say just before you brush |
| since writing down my dreams and visualising them | | | | your teeth as it's something you naturally do regularly |
| every day I can't believe how extraordinary things | | | | every day so you can easily remember to do it!and |
| keep happening to me. | | | | quickly your goals just turn into habits. This is genuinely |
| Having watched "The Secret" DVD a couple of years | | | | the key to success as your unconscious mind starts to |
| ago and having just read Napoleon Hill's amazing book | | | | explore ways to make these things happen for you -it |
| "Think and Grow Rich" I can't believe the people I meet, | | | | just starts to deliver a plan that will be the turnkey in |
| the adventures I have and the relationships and people | | | | achieving your goals. |
| that I'm so grateful for having in my life since I started | | | | Loads of people make New Year's Resolutions to |
| to use the power of visualisation. | | | | lose weight, give up smoking or take more exercise |
| Some people say that we cannot control the future, | | | | but I agree with Paul McKenna when he says that |
| but failing to plan is planning to fail. If you have a wait | | | | visualisation is far much more powerful than willpower. |
| and see attitude, then whatever happens simply | | | | So if you want your relationship to improve with your |
| happens and sometimes you can feel like life is | | | | stroppy teenager or your unpredictable toddler just |
| controlling you and you are a victim to fate. When you | | | | relax and keep visualising how you'd like it to be in a |
| write down some goals that you'd like to achieve you | | | | perfect world in lots of detail - see yourself relaxed |
| feel far more in control of your life and you feel far | | | | and hear the sorts of things you say and do in this |
| less stressed and far more energised. | | | | perfect scenario. This truly inspires you and keeps you |
| Like everyone else, I like to plan things that I'd like to | | | | really motivated and enthusiastic and is far more |
| achieve or see happen for the new year, but I also | | | | powerful than just "wishing for" things to improve. |
| know that unless I put determined, concentrated effort | | | | But as I also learnt on Tony Robbins "Unleash the |
| behind my goals they will never materialise. You have | | | | Power Within" Firewalking weekend you also have to |
| to distinguish between a wish, a dream, a hope and a | | | | take massive immediate ACTION. Don't just be like |
| desire. Napoleon Hill even goes so far as to say you | | | | one of the people down the pub talking a good game |
| must make your dreams burning desires which adds | | | | .....and blaming someone else.... go and actually DO |
| passion and real enthusiasm to your hopes. It's the | | | | SOMETHING about making it happen. Change your |
| difference between just talking about something you'd | | | | tone of voice, appear more assertive and confident, |
| like to happen and really making it happen. | | | | listen more and talk less, read a parenting book on |
| So why not look at the sort of family relationships | | | | communicating with teenagers - whatever it takes to |
| you'd really love to have with each of your children in | | | | make a small change that can make a huge |
| 2008 or look at the sort of parent you'd like to be | | | | difference. |
| described as when your kids are all grown up and are | | | | Don't just wish - be really specific - daydream and |
| telling their kids about you. | | | | imagine how you'd like it to be - take a small step of |
| What sort of memories are you creating for them | | | | ACTION and believe - then you will truly see the |
| through your discipline, enthusiasm and time spent really | | | | changes that you genuinely want to see. |
| chatting and playing with them? | | | | I want you to pat yourself on the back and take a few |
| Go and grab a cup of coffee and a pen and take a | | | | moments to reflect on the achievements and |
| few moments to daydream and make some plans. | | | | challenges you experienced last year and to really |
| The year is divided into 12 months, so why not assign | | | | celebrate all the things you did really well - as parents |
| yourself 12 goals for the new year? | | | | we forget to celebrate and praise ourselves for doing |
| So start by asking yourself: | | | | a great job often under difficult circumstances. Then |
| * What do I most want to change in 2008 in my family | | | | just relax and come up with some new and different |
| relationships? | | | | positive ways to further your goals and ambitions in |
| * What would be different in my life if these problems, | | | | the New Year ahead. Remember, this year is just |
| niggles or worries were gone permanently? | | | | starting and you have a whole world of possibilities |
| * What will happen if I don't sort them out once and for | | | | available to you. Don't be too hard on yourself up |
| all? | | | | about last year's mistakes - just learn from them and |
| * What small thing could I do today to start the | | | | get excited about the things you can do this year. |
| process off? | | | | I hope you make this your most positive, harmonious |
| If you want to, you can even rank the goals highest to | | | | and fun -filled New Year ever! |
| lowest with one being your number one goal for the | | | | |