Yep, that's it: Just take the first step. Sometimes we get so caught up in everything we have going on in our lives, that it seems overwhelming because it all just feels too big. And then we freeze up, become paralyzed, and end up doing nothing instead. In the moment, it can certainly seem easier to keep plugging along the way we always have because it's familiar and it's easy. But then again if we fall into that trap, it doesn't really get us to a new place in life. It keeps us stuck in the same old routine and patterns; the same old rut. And you've probably heard that old saying, "If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got."

As this New Year begins and we look forward in our lives, we might dream of: Healthy new habits to improve our lives, opportunities for growth and development to make our lives better, and goals we set that we know would help us feel successful in our lives. And so when these things feel too big or overwhelming, stop and acknowledge that they feel big.
And then follow these six steps…to help you break down what might feel like lofty aspirations into smaller, manageable,
"bite-sized" bits that will ultimately set you up for success:

1) Determine the things that matter most to you. Is it time with your family? An annual vacation? Physical and emotional well-being? Decide on what it is that is most precious to you and write it down. Pick your top ten. Then pick your top five. Keep this list with you to remind you of your priorities. Then figure out where you can say "no" in your life so that you can say a more resounding "YES!" to what really matters. Be willing to let go of the extras, at least for now. Maybe it's time to say "no" to extra volunteer work so that instead you can say "yes" to time for your own personal development.

2) Focus your energy and attention on what you can control. Our lives are literally filled with things that are outside of our control. If we spend our time and energy worrying about the things we can't control, we'll perpetuate
the cycle and feel more powerless and more out of control. Why do that to yourself? Think about the things in your life you can control and spend your energy there. When you experience your own personal power, you stop feeling like a victim and you begin to notice your own strength. For example, while you cannot control world hunger, you
can do your part by donating money or food, raising awareness in your community, or getting active politically.
You can either be upset about a situation or you can do something—it's your choice.

3) Develop a rough "plan" for the year. Imagine a compass representing your upcoming year. What's the "true north" that it is pointing toward? When it is December 31, 2007 and you look back and feel good about the year you just had, what is it that must take place for you to feel satisfied? What is it that will help you to be successful?
Then start to work backwards and develop a plan for your year to include those things that will set you up for success. Maybe it's starting a yoga class, or a plan to read more books, or setting aside your Saturday afternoons to relax and re-charge. Whatever it is, include the things in your plan that are most important to you.

4) Set aside the time to make the important things happen. The best ideas are nothing at all without the time
to make them so. Honor yourself and your year ahead by making room for success and for setting aside the time necessary. Make sure you have a calendar or planner that works for you so that at a glance you can visually see your year, months, weeks, and days. You are in charge of how you spend your time. And if you don't claim your
time and spend it wisely, you can be assured that it will disappear. Writer and poet Annie Dillard said, "How we live our days is how we live our lives." Choose to live your days in a way that will make you proud.

5) Take special care of yourself. If you don't take care of yourself, who will? We have to re-charge our batteries in order to have the reserves necessary to deal with anyone or anything else. Think about the last time you were on an airplane. Remember before takeoff how the flight attendant instructed passengers that in the event of cabin pressure loss to secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting others? And so it goes with our lives. Decide what you need to do and who you need to be to provide ultimate self-care. We are each in this world for a specific purpose, and it is up to us to be our best so that we can share our gifts and talents. The better we take care of ourselves the more we have to offer!

6) Celebrate! Deciding what matters most to you, acting on those priorities, and taking care of yourself requires effort. And it requires work. Be gentle on yourself as you create new habits and patterns in your life, and remember that it is a process. As we reward our children when they first learn to walk—celebrate and yell "Yeah!!!" when you take your first step, your second step, and your third step…until you complete a series of steps. And then keep cheering yourself on and celebrating. It's the easy way out to leave things "status quo" and not strive for more. Congratulate yourself for choosing to make things better. Celebrate!

It is up to YOU to take the steps necessary to set yourself up for success. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best when he said to "Take the first step in faith." Remember his advice: "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Take your first step in creating a successful year! Sign-up for an Ultimate Living Jump-Start to close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be!

Michelle Stimpson is a Professional Coach who empowers her clients to slow down, get clear on priorities, and create a life of purpose. She leads an "Ultimate Living" program for women who, in the busyness of today's world, want a simple solution to get out of overwhelm…and stay out forever! Learn more about Michelle.

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