Here we are, at the end of 2011. This year has truly flown by, and I can hardly believe that this time last year I started this blog with a list of resolutions. The primary resolution was basically to take pause more often...to learn to slow down. I can say with much contentment that I made strong progress towards this goal. I really believe that my ability to chill out has increased several times over since this time last year. In reflecting on the past year, I remembered that there was a list of goals and thought maybe it would feel good to check in on them, thinking that maybe all my pausing may have prohibited my progress. In fact, it is the opposite.
Take the EPPP and get licensed as a Psychologist.
Passed! I passed it! All I have left is the relatively simply state exam, which I would have taken already if the board didn't move at molasses pace in getting me signed up. I hope to be fully licensed by the end of January.
Regularly back up my laptop.
After another near loss of my computer's contents, I have actually gotten better at this.Make pictures albums out of my digital photographs so that if they are all stolen again I can have hard copies.
Well.....some progress. I am about 80% done with an album for 2009. LOL.
Pay off my credit card debt.
DONE! And bonus, I paid off my car. Wow! That wasn't even on my goal list!
Hire an accountant.
I consulted with one, did some research, worked with Geoff, and am now managing all the taxes stuff on my own with some level of confidence.
Go visit my friends and family on the East Coast.
Done! More than once! Cook something new every week.
Maybe not every week, but much more often that the year before. Plus, I made a whole new Thanksgiving dinner menu!Sign up for yoga.
Not only did I sign up, but I had several months of consistent practice before my membership ran out. I fell off for a month, but now I am back at it and even took an anti-gravity yoga class!
Party like a rockstar before I start making babies at some vague point in the future.
See photos of Santa Bar Crawl. We are good at this.
All in all, it has been a very fun year. I have learned a lot about myself, but mostly have learned that all that behavioral change stuff that I teach to clients is actually true. If you want to change, you are more likely to succeed if you:
1. Operationalize your goals. What will the change look like? How will you know you are improving?
2. Monitor your progress. Keep tabs on how things are changing, the obstacles that arise, and solutions that work.
3. Make public declaration of change. We'd all like to believe that our own internal motivation will be enough to keep us on track towards changing behavior. For most of us, social support and reinforcement is actually essential in sustained change. If we publicly declare our goal, we are more likely to stick to it. I know for sure that writing in this blog, no matter how infrequent, helped me to remain mindful of my intention. It also gave me a place to celebrate my successes. I am thankful for all your kind words associated with my thoughts over the past year.
In coming to the end of this year of pause, I considered taking on a new word theme for the coming year. Maybe something related? PLAY? REWIND? We'll see....it could just be STOP.
