Three weeks into 2012 is a stage when most of us are settling into a New Year. If you are in the habit of making New Year's resolutions, you may be already progressing with them. If you prefer to write detailed goals, you may have them written and displayed already, putting them into action. Maybe you intend to do one of these but haven't quite got round to doing so yet for one reason or another? Today, I'd like to write about being clear on what we are trying to achieve. It is not intended to be a goal setting exercise alone, but rather one to help you be clear on how you would like to shape your life or business going forward. It is also a chance to take stock and perhaps clear out any debris from last year. Regardless of the situation you are at right now, I'd like to share with you some questions that I and my family sit down each January and answer for ourselves. We make it a written exercise which we complete individually without conferring and then, when completed, we compare notes. As a family, it is a great thing to do. Not only because we become clearer on how to plan our way our forward, it also serves as a leveller between us, in that by taking the time to share our thinking with each other, it never fails to strengthen, harmonise and enhance understanding between us. I guess it's a bit like a stock take of where we are at. You can use it in any way you choose: for yourself, as a couple, as a work team, as friends but I would suggest you begin with yourself as it will most likely reveal some hidden surprises to help you. Have fun with this! 1. What were my successes in 2011? (What have I achieved?) 2. What learning do I value most from 2011? 3. What am I grateful for? 4. What did I hope for in 2011 that I didn’t manage to achieve? 5. What do I wish for in 2012, for myself? 6. What do I wish for in 2012 for those I care about? 7. What would I like to achieve in 2012 at work, for my health/well being and in my relationships? 8. How much effort am I willing to make in order to achieve this? 9. What would I like for my family? 10. What am I prepared to do in order to achieve this? • How will I know that come 31 December 2012, it will have been a happy and successful year for me? (Write freely here; try to think beyond current obstacles that may appear to lie in your way) • How will I know that on 31st of December 2012, this year will have been happy and successful year for those I care about most? (Again write freely here, try to go beyond obstacles) • How can I make sure I stay on track with my goals throughout the coming year? • What can I do to get "back on track" if I get distracted from my planned route to success? • Who can I turn to for help if necessary, so that I can feel “back on track” again as soon as possible? • How appealing to me is a year full of fun and good health, great relationships, enjoyable work and largely free from stress? (Once again write freely here, write your ideal). Good luck with this. Remember to keep your answers positive and in your ideal. We all have challenges that may look difficult to resolve, however the value of this exercise is to take yourself out of the current situation and design your ideal. You will most likely discover some wonderful insights which will HELP you resolve your challenges. I'll leave you with a great quote from Wayne Dyer: ‘’ What comes out of you when you are squeezed, is what lies within you!” Have a great week Billy.

Firstly let me begin by welcoming all readers to P.S. Life Can Be Easy’s 2012 blogs, a week later than planned (apologies for that) a few unusual techie issues last week put paid to that. Maybe it was the storms blowing a wind of change! Wind of change-that expression came to me yesterday, not for the first time, but I am reminded not only of a New Year but we are told a very special year. No one can doubt the "wind of change" spreading across the globe right now. Western credit systems have produced a financial earthquake, dictatorships have toppled, weather patterns buck the trend. Protests, riots justified or not have adorned our television screens. So what's happening? How will our lives evolve in 2012? Are these changes for the worse for society or better? What we all share in common, regardless of nationality is the desire to live comfortably, peacefully and happily. A tall order for 2012? What do you think? I wrote earlier of 2012 being a very special year. Why? Well I believe it is a telling point, the dawning of a new era for all of civilisation. People are openly agreeing that life is changing, values are changing, the old ways no longer work, that we in the more developing countries will have to settle for lesser lifestyles, go without, get used to less. What is less certain is that the new ways are not quite emerging as quickly as we may like and therefore leaves many people in a state of limbo, uncertainty and confusion about how we think, what we value most and the mood in which to approach our day to day work and lives in general. Well let's take a look at the positives here. Where there is change, there is challenge. But where there is challenge, there is choice to do things differently. Change brings uncertainty which we generally resist or try to avoid. It's the natural response from our ego, our analytical mind. Once we have learned to embrace change, choose new ways and our approaches to situations, uncertainty becomes possibility and possibility makes way for hope and courage in all that we do and wish for. You can guess my next line can’t you?! This is what P.S. Life Can Be Easy has to offer in its service. It exists to help people like you to make the changes you would like to make, the changes that you must make and the changes that will come to you regardless. I have read much about 2012 and many of the predicted changes. They range from the end of the world (personally I don't buy that one!) To the dawning of a new era, less stressful more peaceful more meaningful to us humans and our endeavours will stop. This gives me hope and courage and I trust for you too. Over the coming weeks I will be writing more on how we can make the transition from the old to the new more "easy" for ourselves. Let's call it 2012 made easy! Until next week, I wish you a happy and exciting transitional year. There is much to look forward to, of that I have no doubt. But meanwhile: Have a great week Billy

Well folks, it's the time of year again when we all look forward to that perfect, blissful day of the year, when the gifts are exactly what you wanted, the food never tasted better, your choice of company for the day, the best on the planet and you have genuinely never felt happier! Yep, it's called Christmas and is the season to be jolly! If only feeling jolly was so easy. Now before you think I am crying humbug - bear with me. As we approach the end of 2011, I'm sure you will agree that this year hasn't been without its trials and tribulations. While we all look forward and hope for an enjoyable Christmas Day etc your reality may be somewhat less than perfect. Having spoken too many of you recently, I hear many of you are feeling challenged at this time, particularly this year. I find myself sharing a thought repeatedly, which seems to help and I offer this to you now. Christmas is just another day, albeit an important one. If your job or business has been tough lately, 2012 is a New Year. If you have to curtail your Christmas budget this time, accept that less to spend doesn't necessarily mean you cannot enjoy your day. Many of us feel under pressure to feel great, look great and say and do all the right things. The truth is that for most people, Christmas is not always perfect but more of a compromise. But therein lies the best gift of all: when we see compromise as key to having an enjoyable day instead of looking for perfection, somehow the whole prospect of coping with Christmas seems a whole lot easier. We may actually get through it better than expected. Let's face it, travel can be disrupted, we may not be feeling our best, we may not get to spend the day with everybody we would like, and yes the chances are, you've heard the Christmas cracker jokes before! But remember, it's just another day. Make the most of it, with or without your loved ones, even if the presents are smaller or you have worries about finances. And the payoff? By facing the day bravely without expectations for the "perfect day", the whole experience will be at least be easier, if not better than you expected. And if your Christmas is a great one, spare a thought for those who are less fortunate this time round. This will be my first Christmas without my father who passed away this year but instead of missing him too much, I plan to remember the good times, just as he would want us to. It's just another day but however you choose to spend it, all of us at PS Life Can Be Easy wish that you allow yourself to have the best day possible. It's the best present you can give yourself. I look forward to blogging with you again from the 5th January, when we will be looking at how to have the best year, in every area of our lives in 2012. Yes, it is all possible but more about that later. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!