I guess you could say I’m a bit of a self-help geek considering my idea of a good time for ringing in the new year consists of paper, glue, and reflection instead of bubbly, confetti, or noise makers. I enjoyed finishing my year-in-review exploding box to commemorate 2009 and reflecting on my end-of-year inquiries as a follow-up to listing what I’m celebrating from the year.

What are you most proud of?

• Setting the intention that I would land a book deal and sticking through the process even when it was challenging and disheartening.
• Showing up fully right from the get-go at my Expressive Arts Teacher Training (especially in light of it being at the same location where I had a difficult time a few years before).
• Trusting my creative flow.

What was your biggest learning?

• Having fabulous, inspiring, and supportive creative cohorts is essential. Collaborating with the right people makes all the difference.
• Valuable growth comes from failure. It’s part of the process.

How did you stretch yourself?

• I hit the road a lot this year – attending the book expo, leading workshops, giving talks, and visiting friends.
• Last year I got tons of great experience doing work through other groups and organizations, but this year I stretched myself by focusing on and growing my own body of work.

Who did you lean on for support?

• I’m so very grateful for all the wonderful support I have from my husband. He provides me with lots of encouragement and he helps me in so many ways.
• I don’t know where I’d be without my amazing book coach, Jan King. She helps me through every step of this publishing journey.
• My mentor and intuitive painting teacher, the wise and generous Chris Zydel.
• The Nurture Huddle.
• My friends, family, and my fellow creative entrepreneurs.

How will you celebrate who you’ve become?

• Doing my reflection exercises has been a meaningful way for me to celebrate. I’m also looking forward to doing more work in Leonie’s gorgeous 2010 Goddess Planner.
• Tomorrow I’m going to go to a New Years Day yoga class. I know it will be a great way to kick off the new year.
• Keep honoring my self-care Fridays and scheduling a massage for January.
• Oh, and I just might buy myself a new pair of designer jeans!

I hope you take some time to reflect on your year. I loved seeing my fellow wishstudio columnist Shona Cole share her year-end celebration. Way to go!

Happy New Year! Wishing you a wonderful 2010!

At the end of the year, I like to spend some time reflecting on what I learned and accomplished. First, I start making a list of all the things big and small that I’m celebrating. Then, I journal about what my big learnings were. I also enjoy doing something artsy and visual to commemorate the year, like the exploding box I made for 2008. For other creative ideas, check out my latest Musepreneur column on the wishstudio.

What I’m celebrating from 2009:

Career/Calling

• Enjoyed working with more new clients and continuing to support my long-term clients. I’ve been blown away by the courageous and inspiring work they’ve all been up to this year.
• Went to Book Expo America in May with a book proposal and sell sheets in hand.
• Wrote and sent out book proposal for Right-Brain Business Plan in June.
• Signed book contract for Right-Brain Business Plan with New World Library in December. Woohoooo!!
• Set up affiliate program for Right-Brain Business Plan e-Book.
• Gave design facelifts to this blog, my Unfolding Your Life Vision kit site, and my Right-Brain Business Plan site.
• Led the Inner Muse group coaching teleclass.
• Held Right-Brain Business Plan workshops.
• Collaborated with Leah on our Creative Play workshop in Boston.
• Led a Dream Box workshop in DC.
• Gave talks at the Creativity in Business conference in DC, at Sacramento Ladies Who Launch, and Oakland eWomen Network
• Half-way through a year-long Expressive Arts Teacher Training program with Chris Zydel.
• Co-led monthly calls with Kathy Loh on the Creative Artists community on the Co-Active Network.
• Began brainstorming with Britt Bravo, Lisa Sonora Beam, and Kimberly Wilson for a Creative Women Entrepreneur event next year.
• Did various interviews, guest posts, and podcasts.

Personal Growth

• Participated regularly in bi-weekly Nurture Huddle calls (thanks so much for all your invaluable support and wonderful friendship this year, ladies!).
• Attended a writer’s retreat.
• Took SARK’s Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper workshop.
• Went regularly to Intuitive Painting classes and painted BIG!
• Participated in Art Every Day month for the third year.
• Did a birth chart astrology reading with Chris Zydel.
• Did morning journaling and read lots and lots of books.

Wealth & Abundance

• Created a new illustrated worksheet, Your Life in Bloom.
• Continued to make more passive income selling products.
• Worked with a bookkeeper to help with monthly reconciliations and Quickbooks stuff.
• Bought an original art piece from Leah at Blue Tree Art Gallery.

Health & Wellbeing

• Went to Kimberly Wilson’s Hip Tranquil Chick yoga retreat in NY.
• Attended yoga classes regularly and took a circus yoga class.
• Attended step, body conditioning, and Zumba classes regularly.
• Tried out Shimmy Pop for the first time!
• Did food craving sessions with Kara Sorenson and gave myself permission to spend a little more on healthy food.
• Finally learned how to use a neti pot without gagging or crying.
• Treated myself to getting a massage every once in a while.
• Honored my self-care Fridays.

Relationships

• Spent quality time with Brian.
• Hung out with family and friends.
• Discovered a piece of family history thanks to a stranger.
• Eighth year of book club fun.
• Took a trip to Mexico with Brian.
• Befriended by the sweet, generous, and wonderful Amy.

Physical Environment

• Had housecleaner come regularly.
• Organized my Unfolding Your Life Vision kit inventory in the garage and Brian cleared out a lot of the clutter in the garage, too. Yay!
• Organized my craft area.
• Got cracks in our stucco fixed so we won’t have any more leaks in the living room when it rains.
• Finally put a new latch on our kitchen closet to keep Emmett out of the trash (well, actually Brian did this when I was at my wits end cleaning trash from the floor, thanks honey!). Also created a new system for our recycling because when Emmett couldn’t get into the trash can, he went for the recycling bin!

Fun & Recreation

• Visited with friends in NY, Boston, and D.C. and had friends visit with me.
• Met some new cool people online and in person.
• Took a roadtrip with Leah, Melba, and Mindy to check out the Squam Art Fair.
• Completed my year-long creative project, Kiss the Paper, with Kate and Molly.
• Participated in Wreck This Journal and did my first vlogs.
• Discovered new favorite art supplies.
• Cuddled with my dog.

What are you celebrating from 2009? What acknowledgment will you give yourself?

Here’s to a rockin’ 2010! I’ve still got some year-in-review reflection to wrap up and then when I’m done, I’m excited to dive into Goddess Leonie’s delicious and dreamy 2010 Goddess Planner. These gorgeous and colorful pages are making me super excited about setting my intentions for the new year.

With 2009 just around the corner, I consciously cleared the clutter in my office to make room for wonderful things to come in the new year. (I also donated five bags to Goodwill last week!)

For the past few weeks, I’d been feeling burdened by lots of administrative obstacles in both my personal and professional life.  And boy did the mess on my desk show that. I couldn’t even work there!

Ah, it feels so good to have a functioning and inspiring workspace again!  I’m more focused and energized, which is a great way to kick off 2009.

Before jumping into the new year, though, I like to reflect on the past year.  I already did a visual year in review.  Taking the time to also write about 2008 helped me remember accomplishments both big and small that I want to celebrate as well.

As I reflect on the year, I come up with a title to capture the essence of what unfolded.  Last year was “My year of integration: When it all came together.”  This year was “My year of stepping out and being seen, speaking up and being heard,” which is based on my first happiness commandment.  For someone who is usually behind the scenes, this was definitely a stretch for me.  I challenged myself AND I had fun doing it!

My 2008 accomplishments:

Career/Calling

• Expanded my business and worked with awesome clients
  
• Featured in two books – “The Girl’s Guide to Kicking Your Career Into Gear” and “The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life“
• Created two products – the Right-Brain Business Plan e-Book and the Unfolding Your Life Vision Kit
• Appeared on two TV shows
• Led Oakland Ladies Who Launch Incubators and helped fabulous women launch their businesses
• Contributed to the emerging field of Expressive Arts Coaching through leading calls on the Creative Artists community and presenting at SF Coaches
• Was a CTI Circle Coach for Quest in D.C. and Toronto
• Worked regularly with my book coach and wrote 20,000 words for my draft
• Led multiple dream box workshops and a Right-Brain Business Plan workshop
• Did various radio shows and podcasts and wrote a column
• Led a group coaching circle
• Had a booth with Kate at the LWL Be Your Own Boss event where I launched the Unfolding Your Life Vision Kit
• Had my first paid speaking engagement

Personal Growth

• Took workshops to honor my value of personal growth: Inside Team Training to continue to deepen my coaching skills, a presentation skills class, Kimberly Wilson’s Yoga and Creativity workshop, The Intuitive Entrepreneur and an InterPlay class
  
• Participated in the Art Every Day Month Challenge and the 29 Gifts Challenge
• Volunteered through C.E.O. Women
• Served on the board of SF Coaches

Health and Well-being

• Found local yoga classes that I like and started to go regularly
• Went for hikes in nature
• Rediscovered my handstand in yoga
• Went for swims on hot, sunny days
• Ate lunch outside during the summer

Relationships

• Spent quality time with Brian, including a nice date to see the Frida exhibit
• Relished in laughs and great food with my book club
• Visited my family in LA three times
• Spent time with friends and made new friends in real life and online

Wealth and Abundance

• Participated in a money circle and created my ideal budget
• Reached my financial goals for the year
• Made passive income and created multiple revenue streams

Fun and Recreation

• Took a spontaneous trip to London to visit dear friends
• Began a collaborative, creative project Kiss the Paper with Kate and Molly
• Had play dates with my creative playground friends to explore expressive arts
• Did yoga in the park and in my backyard

What did you celebrate in 2008?  What is the title of your year?

Wishing you all the best in 2009!

Most of today was spent completing my “year in review” project on my exploding box.  It ended up taking a lot longer than I anticipated, but it was great to spend time reflecting on all the exciting events and accomplishments that have transpired so far in 2008.

My moo cards were the perfect size to decorate the pages.

I even made a miniature brochure that unfolds just like the real one!

Wow, 2008 has really been an amazing year!  So many of the things that I had envisioned in my Right-Brain Business Plan last year have manifested.  I look forward to finishing up my year in review next month and to envisioning more for 2009!

In December, I like to have my coaching clients reflect on what they’ve accomplished throughout the year. It’s such a gift to set aside some time during the frenetic holiday season to actually honor everything you’ve manifested in the last 12 months.

After spending a few hours last Saturday journaling about my own learnings, discoveries, milestones and achievements in 2007, I was amazed at how so many different pieces of my life have flowed together in such meaningful ways. I looked back at some notes I had when I started working with my last coach after leaving my job and one of the things I wanted was more integration. I was tired of living a separate work life apart from the rest of my life.

I’m happy to say that I gave 2007 the title, “My Year of Integration: When it all came together!”

So many big things happened this year. Revamped my coaching brand, celebrated my one year of freedom, got interviewed for a book, started leading Incubators, led my second year of the CDB leadership program, got selected as a CTI Circle Coach, became certified as an Ashtanga yoga instructor and led dream box workshops at the studio, got my MBTI qualification, participated in Art Every Day Month, traveled with friends, started a creative playground to explore Expressive Arts Coaching. And so much more!

Given all the insights I gained from doing art every day last month, I picked up my watercolors and painted a mandala to represent all that has unfolded this year. I love having a visual reminder of this wonderful feeling of integration and of what has blossomed in 2007.