With 2009 now upon us, it’s the perfect opportunity to start thinking about where you want to go in life.  Setting goals is a powerful process for motivating yourself and turning your dreams into reality.

Have you thought about what you want to achieve this year?  Do you want to focus on family, physical, spiritual, or pleasure?  How about financial, career, or education?

By writing down your goals, it gives them more force and helps you reach them.   We’ve come up with an exercise – goal setting with a twist and we encourage you to participate.  It’s the perfect way to start off the New Year.  Here’s how it works:

Ask Yourself the Following Questions:

• What are you passionate about that will propel you forward next year?
• What support do you need to create what you desire?

Consider this 3 step process:

1. Focus on what you want
2. Visualize with feeling
3. Take action

Be grateful for all that you have yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

(Quoted from ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne)

Action

Part I
Write a letter to yourself dated December 2009 that illustrates what you have created and attracted into your life by the end of 2009.  Write it as though it has already occurred; like a Christmas letter you are sending to yourself highlighting all that happened in this past year. This is one more step into visualizing with feeling what you want 2009 to look like.

Part II
Mail the letter to:

Jouta Performance Group
301, 1040 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2R9

We will NOT open the letter but rather put it into another envelope to be mailed back to you in December 2009.  Be sure to put Goal Setting 2009 in the address line. This will ensure that we know what the letter is for and do not open it.  Also, please ensure your return address is on the outside of the envelope.

This exercise has been a huge success in the past to those who have participated in the process. We challenge those of you who have done it before to do it again, and those who haven’t, well, you know, give it a try!

Happy Goal Setting!

The New Year is a perfect time to look back at the past twelve months, and more importantly, look forward to the coming year. We believe the way we close off a year is an important indicator of how we start the New Year.

Take time out for yourself and reflect on the happenings in your life in 2008 and what you would like to take with you into 2009! We ask you to ponder these questions:
* What do you need to let go of from this past year?
* What are you most thankful for that happened this last year?
* What do you want to take with you into 2009 that you learned and worked well for you in 2008?
* Based on what you have learned by answering the questions above, what is a personal commitment you would like to make to yourself for 2009?

We suggest that you think about these questions over the next couple of weeks, and encourage you to complete the exercise prior to December 31st, 2008. Start the New Year off on a positive note!

Whatever a mind can Conceive, and Believe it will Achieve!
~ Napoleon Hill

Our latest video, “I See You” is a poem written by one of our clients about truly seeing one another and allowing ourselves to be seen more clearly. Here’s what inspired the Poet, Elizabeth McNally.

This poem was inspired by a story I heard Bill Clinton tell when I saw him in New Orleans – he spoke of a tribe in Africa, who when they meet one another greet each other by saying “I see you…”

I was struck by that – how would we all be different if we greeted one another thus. To be seen, truly seen and to acknowledge it … to have another look into your eyes and say with heart and meaning “I see you”

I had tucked the story away and shared it from time to time with groups I was speaking to. Then, one day I visited a dear friend who had just had massive heart surgery – he closed his eyes as he saw me approach his bed, saying “I didn’t want you to see me like this…” my own heart contracted at his admission … and so this poem was born – so we should all see one another and allow ourselves to be seen more clearly.

Try to put things into perspective and just think about how lucky you really are to have the basics in life that we so often take for granted. We live in a beautiful city with a roof over our heads, healthcare, running water, food…

We’ve won the lottery in life simply by being born at this certain time and certain place. The next time you think “I wish I had,” pause for a moment and list all of the good things that you already have in your life. A rich life can come from within through laughter, making a difference in the world, rewarding connections with others, and self-value.

Dogs don’t let minor problems become big ones, they’re always loyal, they get enough rest, and they know that you’re never too old for a little fun in your life.

When life gets overwhelming, take a few lessons from a dog! Try to run, romp, and play daily. Enjoy the wind in your face. Never pretend to be something you’re not. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. Take naps and always stretch before rising. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

Check out our latest video, “Things We Can Learn from a Dog” and look at life in a furry new way!

Share your thoughts and comments with us below…

Staying Positive and Focused

Do you want to go home from work feeling a sense of accomplishment? Do you want to be more fulfilled, engaged, productive and satisfied at work?

View the latest addition to our ‘Living in the Moment’ video series that focuses on being present in the workplace. In a world filled with pressures and responsibilities, it’s easy to feel scattered and disorganized at work.

The more productive and positive you are, the more fulfilled you’ll feel at the end of the day, leading to increased happiness outside of work.

Here are a five tips to staying positive and productive at work:

• Don’t get caught up in negativity. Pay attention to positive news and pass it on
• Show your co-workers respect by actively listening to what they have to say
• Forget about all of the things that you have to do when you get home – focus on your task at hand and produce something that you’re proud of
• Praise the work or attitude of someone you work with
• Be present and engaged during meetings

Stay positive, focus on the task at hand and just see how much you accomplish and how good you feel at the end of the day. It’s worth it – I promise.

A few years ago, a stranger did a random act of kindness by buying dinner for my boyfriend and I without telling us. The man had been seated beside us at a restaurant and we exchanged a few words with him throughout our meal. When he finished his dinner, he said good bye to us then got up to pay his bill and leave.

After he left, my boyfriend and I finished our dinner then asked our waitress for our bill. She said the man next to us had taken care of it and had told her that he didn’t know why, but he just wanted to buy us dinner. Talk about a story of SuperAbundance!

Needless to say, we were stunned and touched by this simple act of kindness. Not only that, he kept it quiet and didn’t stick around to see our reaction or wait for our sincere thanks. What he didn’t know was that my boyfriend was taking me to Tofino for a relaxing and romantic weekend getaway, where he proposed to me. Today, we’re happily married and fondly look back on that weekend. It was fun and memorable on so many levels, and something that we’ll always remember.

After that day, I vowed that I would return the random act of kindness to an unsuspecting stranger. And with 8-8-8 (August 8th) just around the corner, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

What does SuperAbundance mean to you? We’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas and suggestions on what you can do to create SuperAbundance for yourself or others around you.

~ by Sheri

This article talks about the importance of keeping your word and the impact it has on relationships.

We tend to lose sight of the present and don’t fully appreciate the surrounding beauty and everything else that’s going on around us. Instead of getting worked up about all the things that you have on your plate, put your mind at rest and look for the opening.

Appreciate the moment. Look at the trees and flowers in bloom. Look at the people walking. The architecture of the buildings around you. Don’t worry, you’ll reach your destination. The laundry will get done. You’ll find the time to pick up the dry cleaning.

Rest your mind and take in what’s happening right now. I promise, you’ll feel better, more relaxed, and you’ll probably notice things around you that you haven’t before.

After all, you can’t control the past or what’s going to happen in the future. You CAN control what’s happening right now, this very moment. Enjoy it!