I used to put out a lot of energy around the New Year making resolutions that I secretly knew I couldn’t keep, and making big plans to make the New Year mean something amazing was happening in my life. To be honest with you, it led to a lot of disappointment and it ate away at my self-trust.

There’s nothing like promising yourself you’re going to do something, and then not being able to follow through for yourself. Yeah, that really ate away at my confidence! Can you relate?

A few years ago, I started looking at the New Year in an entirely different way. I realized that it’s not a race that begins on January 1^st and ends on December 31^st. Instead, it’s a clean slate and an opportunity to get really honest and clear inside of yourself about what’s really true for you, what you really desire (instead of what you think you should be doing… there’s a big difference!), and what your soul is asking to experience next.

But, let’s be honest! This is very different from goal setting and letting your mind (a very clever, beautiful mind!) dictate what should be happening in your 2017. I no longer set goals for myself that feel out of alignment with who I am, or where I’m at in my life. I do things very differently, and I invite you to join me if the ways you’ve been planning for your New Year are no longer working for you!

Here are 5 simple ways to invite your soul into your planning process for 2017:

• Slow down and set the intention for your soul to share its insights with you. Inner wisdom doesn’t flow from your mind. It comes from a much deeper place inside of you. You can’t just access it while you’re multi-tasking, running errands, or preparing dinner. When you slow down and create a sacred space to really receive this inner wisdom, you will feel the difference right away. There is no anxiety or pressure or force behind this kind of information. It feels spacious, expansive, and like a beautiful invitation that you can accept or decline. There is always a choice, and never a “have to” or “should”. So slow down, be deliberate about inviting your soul into your planning process. Light a candle, breathe, and know that it is there to share its wisdom with you.

• Ask a few questions, and the listen for the reply. One of my favorite questions is: What is the biggest priority to me right now in this phase of my life? The mind will have one response, but your soul will have something different to say. Really listen to the wisdom that is speaking to you from inside of you, and notice how different its response is from your active, thinking mind. Which answer feels better to you, more true to you, and why?

• Feel your body. What does it have to tell you? Some of you may know that I had a therapeutic massage practice for 15 years, and as a result I have a deep reverence for the incredible wisdom of the body. But here’s the thing that is almost universally true: we override the feedback, information and messages that it gives us all of the time. When you override the wisdom of your body, you are also overriding your connection to your soul. So, in this moment, if you really listen to what your body has to tell you, what does it say? What is it asking for? How can being a better listener and provider for your body fit into your plans for your 2017?

• What do you know, deep in your heart, to be true for you right now? Maybe you know you need to rest more, sleep more, drink more water, quit that habit that is hurting you, pursue that lead at work, end a relationship, watch less tv… what do you know already that is wanting to shift, change, and be elevated in your life? Make a list, and pay attention to these things. Consider making choices around these truths that feel good to you!

• What needs to happen in your life to deeply support you in receiving all of the above in a way that feels really good, and perfect for you? One of the biggest concepts within Soul-Luxe Living is that how you do something is just as important as what you do. So, how can those shifts that want to happen in your life take place in a way that feels perfect for you? It’s okay to let go of the old “no pain, no gain” mindset, and allow the life that you dream of to enter into your reality in a way that feels amazing to you!

We’ll be taking things to the next level of clarity and inspiration in my complimentary workshop on Wednesday, January 11^th. Click here to register, and learn How to Create the Dreamiest 2017 Possible, the Soul-Luxe Living way!

I’ll see you in the workshop!