“How to Make This Your Best Year Yet”

Remember that lame assignment they always gave you at the start of every school year? “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” tolled the official end of summer and started every year off heading in the wrong direction. Just like you can’t drive forward while looking in the rear-view mirror, you can’t get ready for a brand new year by starting it off looking backwards. Summer is over – it’s time to look ahead. Spend some time thinking about how you want this school year to be. Just by shifting your thoughts, you will be creating your future and unleashing the power of intention. nnAn intention is something that you plan to do or achieve. With focused attention and concentrated energy, anything you can dream you can achieve – as long as you believe. A belief is just a thought you’ve replayed over and over again and accepted it as fact. Your thoughts create your reality so it’s best to keep your thoughts focused on what you want. In other words, you get what you think about most. nnSounds easy right? Think again. The problem is that most people spend all of their time thinking and focusing on what they don’t want. nnHere’s an easy way to figure out what you’re thinking. Pay attention to how you are feeling. Your feelings are your built-in emotional guidance system. When you think positive thoughts, you feel good. There are two ways to enter into this school year; with anticipation or apprehension. Anticipation feels good. Apprehension feels awful.nnOur intentions play a significant role in what shows up in our lives. If our intentions are fear based they are fueled by strong negative emotions which give them more power. nnAs a result, here’s what happens:n If you think you’ll never make any new friends – you probably won’t.n If you think you’ll be totally stressed with so much work – you probably will be.n If you think that you’ll never fit in – you probably won’t.nnThe good news is that the opposite is also true:n If you think you’ll make new friends easily – you probably will.n If you think that you’ll handle everything just fine – you probably will.nIf you think that being yourself is cool – you’re way cool. nnWhen you begin to practice this new way of thinking, you are developing new beliefs. It may feel strange or even silly at first because in essence you’re really playing “make believe.” Most people say “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But when you shift your thoughts to what you want you will begin to “see it because you believe it.” nnDecide right now that this is going to be the best year of your life. Eliminate the words “I can’t” from your vocabulary. Begin this school year with a new assignment: “How I Will Spend This School Year.” You don’t even have to write it; just picture it in your mind. Envision getting good grades. See yourself making the team. Imagine hanging out with great friends who let you be you. Then at the end of the school year, look back, see and believe in your own power to dream, believe and achieve.