With the first quarter of the New year completed, today is a good day to start planning for one of your best years yet if you haven’t already.

I know some of you are yet to start implementing and actualizing the moves that will make this year a successful one for you.

Whilst planning for the New Year I came across 5 key points that I feel if you implement this year, you will be glad you did.

1. Live into your vision
2. Know your abilities
3. Expand your horizons
4. Whatever you have is enough
5. Define what you want

1. Live into your vision

The power to become what we dream lies in our  decision to BE.

Once you see what you want and have a solid image of it, Take Action.

Be so consumed and convinced about your dreams, that you go beyond dreaming. In an almost twisted reverse you start thinking and talking like you were already where you dream to be.

Make a note of your dreams; see it, smell it and talk it.

Instead of living in constant fear and resentment of what you hope not to be; Live into your Vision for your greater future by Speaking what you want to be (Dream to be).

It could be as simple as “I am positive, optimistic, dedicated, loyal, I am the best in…”

Start today by writing it down.

2.Know your abilities

Someone advised once that we should know our limitations. I strongly disagreed as I am of the view that you can do anything and all things at least if you try. The only limitation that exists is in your mind based on the extent of your visions (dreams).

Know your skill, know your art. Identify that element that makes you…You, and don’t just sit on it, use it.

3. Expand your horizons

“Education is the kindling of a flame not the filling of a vessel” -Socrates

Educate yourself, broaden your prospects, enlarge your vision. Read books of those who build, inspire and challenge you to be better.

Go beyond your college qualifications and degree. There are lessons of life that will have a greater impact in your life and may not be taught in the classroom.

There is a requirement to study life, in order to master the routes of triumph and a required study of people because you will meet all sorts of characters upon the face of the universe; some pleasant, some not, some uplifting and some spirt crushing. Find books and people whose knowledge will elevate you to the next best level of your life.

4. Whatever you have is enough

You might be thinking I can’t do that thing I have always wanted to do because I don’t have enough money or resources.

One thing I have learnt over the years is that, at every point of need the resources showed up just when I needed it.

Quit worrying about your lacks and what you hope to have.

If you don’t learn to take pleasure in everything in your life as it appears, you’ll end up stealing the joys of today from things you can be enjoying.

Happiness isn’t in obtaining material things. Happiness exists in taking pleasure in what we have, regardless of the circumstances.

I saw the expression of happiness in an African market in Accra Ghana on New Years Eve when the vendors decided to have a dance off in the market. Despite their conditions they danced in the blistering heat without a care in the world. Unknown to us is, if they had made enough money from their sales to last them a week, since it was only 11am. They caught my attention because they danced regardless, they were relishing the moment. They realized that despite the challenges they faced in 2016, they had made it and were still standing strong. They were happy in the present, the regrets of yesterday and the fears of tomorrow didn’t determine their present state of emotions.

5. Define what you want

Many times we don’t get what we really wanted because we were not definitive about what we wanted.

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms” ~Socrates

How many people in your life do you know that wish for love, happiness and success? I think the vast majority of the global population.

Often we are told to be careful of what we wish for and someone put this notion in a better way; ‘Rather than being careful of what what we wish for, know what you wish for”

Therefore thoroughly define what each of these words (happiness, success, love etc) means for you. Nothing will be more costly than having half knowledge of what your wishes truly mean.

Many occasions and over again it’s important to understand definitions for your self as naturally we internalize these definitions and go through life looking for the pieces of our jigsaw.

I read somewhere, “the biggest mistake in life is letting someone else write our story. No one can do better than you. Your dreams matter.”
How true!

When you think about life you soon realize that; we live in an age where many things come to us daily that try to shape our thinking, try to define us and try to give reasonings for our actions. Fact is, everything and everyone of us has been uniquely built and we can only live our life best, when we live it for ourselves.

A life of fulfillment comes when you impact not just yourself but those around you with an investment of your personality. We all have our dreams and aspirations and letting another person other than ourselves define our lives for us would be living less then we are called to. We are all different and peculiar in some way. What sets you apart may seem strange to another but it’s not to the creator.  Often our peculiarity is what was meant for us to shine the brightest through. The moment you start listening to your inner voice, rather than defying it, you’ll realize that there is only one you who can do what you can do, the way you can do it.

Sometimes your mind needs more time to accept what your heart already knows.  Breathe.  Be a witness, not a judge.  Listen to your intuition. Discover your purpose, aligning what you do with who you are.

Create a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside.  Use your unique ideas, perspectives, and skills to make a difference. If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world because you were born to be the crown jewel, an object of great beauty. Be bold enough to show forth your talents and skills because no one can ever do something the way you can, because there is only one you. Make up your mind to define your own life, your own way.

Don’t get caught up in the expectations of those around you for your life. Live a life that counts for something beyond today, a life you are proud of.  Live YOUR truth and be sure YOU aren’t the one who is disappointed in the end. Chose to live from the inside out, bring what’s inside of you to the rest of the world.