As we step fully into a new year, it seems appropriate to talk about new beginnings and the prospect of creating new rituals, routines, habits or daily practices.  So, I thought this would be a good month to offer a couple of interesting ideas for daily practices which can help us all connect more fully with ourselves and the people and events that we attract into our lives, as well as to experience the abundance and success that we so richly deserve.

The first practice I’d like to share is that of setting intentions.  An intention is a statement that you consciously make when you want something to happen.  These can be intentions for something as simple as the results of a single business meeting, to something a little more involved, like stepping up to new roles in a relationship or what you want to transpire for your entire day or week or life.  It is important that you simply state what you want to happen and then be unattached to how it happens.  When you set an intention, remember to be specific and speak in the present tense…as if you are already accomplishing what you want and reaping the benefits of that intention.  A highly referenced example of setting intentions for the day can be pulled from an interview with Dr. Joe Dispenza, in the movie “What the bleep do we know?”

Dr. Dispenza states: “I wake up in the morning, and I consciously create my day the way I want it to happen.  Now, sometimes, because my mind is examining all the things that I need to get done, it takes me a little bit to settle down, and get to the point, of where I'm actually intentionally creating my day. But here's the thing.  When I create my day, and out of nowhere, little things happen that are so unexplainable, I know that they are the process or the result of my creation. And the more I do that, the more I build a neural net, in my brain, that I accept that that's possible.”

Examples of intentions include: today, I am relaxed & happy; I release all energy that does not serve me; in this meeting, I am professional and open-minded; I have great abundance in my life; I communicate clearly & lovingly in my relationships; I can do what I enjoy & make money at it.

The second daily practice I’d like to put out there is one that could develop from pondering the following inquiry: “What powerful questions can I ask myself each morning?”  A powerful question is an open-ended query designed to rouse your curiosity.  One of the most effective tools that a coach learns to use is to ask powerful questions, providing the opening for clarity and possibility.  These questions should be a little challenging – you should be asking yourself to stretch just a bit – knowing that from this place, you can discover new perspectives and opportunities for growth.

Some examples of powerful questions include: if I could do anything I wanted, what would I do?  what will I have to do to get the job done? what support do I need to accomplish…? what will I take away from this? if I had free choice in the matter, what would I do? what are the possibilities? how will I know I have reached “it”? what will I think about this 5 years from now?

I encourage you to experiment with intentions and powerful questions.  Explore which powerful questions jumpstart your day…then discover where intentionally creating that day can lead!

Copyright 2005 © Spiral of Life Coaching – Laurie Valaer

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