It’s that time again – how quickly the days, months and yes, the years seem to fly by – I mean flow by! It’s always good time of year and the perfect season to look back and reflect on what you’ve accomplished, all that you’ve created and what the year has brought.

Did you create your vision at the end of last year and map out your 2012? Did you do any business planning or goal setting? It’s good to review those documents, maps and vision boards periodically, but it’s especially relevant at year end. Often I’m surprised by how much I’ve realized and accomplished.

We get so caught up in our day to day lives that we sometimes lose bigger picture perspective. We forget to acknowledge all we’ve done, all we’ve become and all that we’ve contributed. I encourage you to take some time to do just that. Take an hour (and two hours would be even better), cozy up with a warm cup of your favorite beverage and take the time to reflect – on what has passed and what is still to come.

If you created a vision board, or have written goals or a roadmap or plan you created at this time last year, read it over. Acknowledge what you achieved. Reflect on what is still important to you and what you’re ready to let go. What projects or ideas do you want to move forward and which ones no longer serve?

Embrace what you’ve done, let go of what you haven’t, give thanks for everything that has brought you to where you are today. We all experience struggles and while they are never easy, they do make us who we are – without adversity, we wouldn’t savor success. It’s part of life and the more we embrace that notion – as opposed to ‘beating ourselves up’ – the better off we are. Bringing gratitude to the process always yields better outcomes.

This type of ritual respect for the opening of the new year allows you to venture into 2013 – a new era – with an open mind, an open heart and ready to receive the opportunities that come our way. The universe is very good at delivering all that we want – IF – and that’s a big IF – we are willing to focus, decide what we want and then ask for it!

I wish you all the blessings of realizing how brilliant and important you are. I wish you the gift of appreciating what you’ve contributed, the difference you make and the accomplishments yet to come. Here’s to you – from my heart, to yours. Blessings abound.