Do you feel invigorated when you think of a New Year?  I totally do!

I love the festivities, the feeling of a blank slate to create whatever I want, the enthusiasm to relish in rituals and set intentions.

Have you set your intentions for this new and beautiful New Year yet?

If not, here are a couple exercises I’ve come across that may be fun for you to do.

This first one is from my friend Colette Kenney.

1st take some time to center yourself in whatever way works best for you.   Once you feel quite inside, ask yourself the following questions:

“What is getting in my way?”

“What barriers am I holding up, that prevent me from getting what I want?”

“How am I not allowing what I want to occur?”

With a journal or piece of paper at your side, write down what comes to you for each question. When you are done, read it over with a kind and accepting heart, and love all of it, no matter what comes up. Because, you wouldn’t be who you are today without it.  Truly feel grateful for everything that shows up and all that it has taught you about yourself.

Now it’s time to release it. Whether releasing it into a flame, or with scissors or a paper shredder. Ceremoniously say good-bye to the old.

Now it’s Time to Set Your Heart-Felt Intentions.

With a quiet mind and heart (if you need to re-ground yourself take some time to do so).  Ask yourself the following questions:

“What is in my highest and greatest interest for this upcoming year?”

“How can I invite more allowing into my life?”

“What do I want to create?”

And again, write down what comes to you in your journal or on a piece of paper.  Once complete, read it over with a kind and accepting heart and feel what it is like to have all that you’ve written.  Imagine it with as much feeling energy as you can possibly muster.

Then do your best to capture the essence of your intentions into a few words that can become your mantra for the upcoming year. Whether it is three values that are meaningful to you, or a short phrase that is easy to remember.

This second exercise is from the inspiring emails I receive from TUT the Universe.

1. Give thanks that life is… just as it is (and that it’s been… just as it’s been). Because of it, you’re now “READY.”

2. Define what you want in terms of the end result. Don’t worry about the hows, or even the course. KNOW that what you want is ALREADY yours in spirit, by divine LAW, just focus on the certainty of this ownership, understand it, claim it, and “it will be on earth, as it is in heaven (spirit).”

3. LET THE UNIVERSE show you the way via your impulses and instincts that appear as you take inspired action. Don’t worry that your first steps seem silly or futile. And if you don’t know what to do, do anything! Go! Get busy! Do not insist on intermediary successes, only upon the end result.

Set a Theme

You can also set a theme for your year.  This could be like a lens through which you can look at everything you do during the following year.

My theme for 2011 is DANCE.  I am going to dance with what the universe gives me.  I’m going to move my body every day.  I’m hopeful that this new commitment to movement will give me more strength and endurance, improving every massage I give.  When I’m deciding what to do for fun activities each week I’m going to look for dance events in Portland, Maine!

We’d love to hear your intentions, themes and resolutions for this upcoming year, so leave us a comment below.