Mid-year life review -- how are you?
 

Ahh, June 15th. This is around the middle of the year -- in the middle of the sixth month. I think this is a good time to take a look at how we've been doing.

Many of us make New Year Resolutions. I've made the same one ever since my teens: Make This Year The Best Yet. And at the end of each year, I look back on it and most of the time I feel I have succeeded. So how is this year going for me?

One major focus this year was developing more self-discipline. I have spent a lot of time in the past figuring out who I am, what I want to develop in myself, and what I need to think and do to accomplish this. My problem for a couple years has been my stop-go-stop-go approach. I make progress, but it's slow progress, because I just can't seem to completely focus well on what I really want.

It's kind of odd, really. Imagine someone telling you that you can have everything you want but you just need to have a little consistency. I think that's basically the opportunity many of us have and yet we struggle. So getting past this struggle in my own life has been a major focus of the year.

These are a few of the things I've been proud of this year so far:

• Relationship with girlfriend has grown and doing well. I foresee great things.
• About a month or two ago I thought, ya know, I've been doing such good work that I really should have a promotion or something. Last week I talked with my managers and I have a big promotion available to me next month.
• Just recently came clean with my dad on feelings I haven't expressed. Basically I've decided to no longer be his scapegoat and I let him know this. I wish I didn't have to do this but I'm glad it's done.
• Made plans on starting a new business, will be acting on soon. It's going to be fun and educational whether or not it makes money (which it will).
• Developed more self-confidence (as if I needed a bigger head), became a better public speaker, and increased my humor abilities.
• Found out vocally that my friends look up to me. Knowing that people want to be more like me has inspired me to be a better person. I see clearly now how much my life influences others.

Not everything has been great. Such as:

• For the first time in my life I had some difficulty in school. Just didn't have good study habits in the Spring.
• Haven't done well with my on-again-off-again exercise and health routines. Some days I eat great and exercise well, and others I just eat whatever and don't exercise at all. Overall I have made an improvement, but it's nowhere near of one it should and could be.
• Found myself participating in some stupid arguments about nothing with some people in my life. I should have been more in the moment and kept my cool like usual, but I've faltered a bit this year in some tricky situations.
• Haven't been consistent with my morning and evening routines. I like to read a short positive story, pray, stretch, and do some other quick activities in the morning when I wake up. I find that it makes the day go much better, but I haven't been consistent with this at all. It's like someone offering me a Guaranteed Great Day pill and I forget to swallow it!
• Haven't been keeping a dream journal or lucid dreaming as much as I used to. I love lucid dreaming but like exercise, I just don't do it sometimes. I've also found myself on a weird sleep schedule of late which I should probably fix for my own mental clarity's sake.

So there's a list of some of the good and bad that I've experienced this year. I have some extra time this Summer and I've been using it to finish up some personal projects I've been helping people with and really just getting eager to kick myself in the ass and make the last half of 2009 the best last half of any year I've had so far.

Enough of me. How are you doing?! :)

How am I doing so far this year? Generally? Pretty good. Thanks for asking. ;)

My major focus this year is to figure out what I will do with my crafts. I've been creative my whole life and since a couple of years I've been sewing a lot, especially plushies. I'm trying to figure out if I want to start a business with those crafts and if so how I should do that. Probably with a sewing machine that actually works. Mine decided to die last week. *sigh*

On the other hand, I've "discovered" self development about a month ago and I have a long way ahead of me in that area as well.

The things I've been proud of this year so far:

• Eating healthier with more fruits and vegetables. I'm really enjoying my smoothies. :)
• My relationship with my boyfriend is going very well, even after he spend three months abroad. I've learned to let him have his freedom while I enjoy mine.
• Accepting compliments. I'm still not very comfortable when it comes down to accepting them, but it's getting better and better.
• Growth. I've been growing in several areas like in the "know yourself" area as well in the "skills you have to use at work" area.
• Reading! I've been reading quite some books so far and I'm actually proud of it. I've neglected my books last year, but this year, I've been reading again.
• Actually considering starting a business and having a pretty good feeling about it.

Things that haven't been that great so far:

• I've been neglecting my arts and crafts a bit because I started thinking that starting a business might not be something for me. Now that I wanted to pick them up again, my sewing machine died.
• Confidence. I'm trying the best I can, but there have been situations and periods in which I should have had more confidence in myself and my abilities and skills.
• Not trusting my boyfriend while he was away. The first two months he was gone, I have been the worst jealous girlfriend imaginable.
• Not keeping up with an exercise routine. Last year I was swimming a lot. This year I haven't gone for a swim yet. I picked up Pilates and I've been trying to do that for about three times a week, but lately it's gone to about once every week.
• Getting fed up too much with small things that my roommates tend to do (leave the dishes when they leave for the weekend so I have to start my weekend by doing them, taking showers at midnight - I'm sleeping next to the shower,...). At a certain point it really stressed me out a lot. I shouldn't bother so much.

Great idea for a thread Daffy Duck!

Things I'm proud of so far this year;

• I've finally started to live my purpose and start a business that incorporates that.
• I've always wanted to live on the Sunshine Coast (south east coast of Queensland, Australia) and am now doing so.
• My relationship with my boyfriend is going really well.
• Changed my approach and attitude towards exercise and diet by setting up an exercise program that works for me and by changing poor eating habits. I now don't obsess over fitness and food. Have lost a bit of weight, toned up, I'm far less tired and now feel great.
• I'm now eating organic food and using organic products.
• After a 2 year stint living in Canada I wanted to reconnect with family and friends and make them a higher priority. I'm now seeing a lot of them and keeping in closer contact with them.
• Have always wanted to write a book and have started to do so.
• Wanted to continue the fun lifestyle we had in Canada back home in Aus which we've managed to do.

Things that still need some work;

• Plan to work on my attitude and mindset around money so I can have my business making a lot more of it and attract financial freedom.
• Would like to be further along with my book so plan to focus more on that.
• I plan to strengthen my relationship with my boyfriend even further.
• Want to travel more. Settling back into life in Aus has hindered that a bit.
• Would like to focus more on collaborating with other people on projects.
• Would like to meditate more often and make it a daily habit.

Overall, I'm really happy with the progress I've made so far this year.

Cool Daffy!

What's going well:

• relationship with girlfriend - lots of roller coaster experiences ;) but we become stronger every time
• relationship with my kids and ex - very proud of that
• relationship with family - mutual respect and connection
• business - developing a new service (website started!)
• personal development - close to finishing 30 Days challenge (Anthony Robbins)
• business - create marketing plan - inspiring!
• health - started exercise - bought a blender and prepare juices (veg & fruit) daily - cut down on 'bad' carbs

What needs to improve:

• spend more time with off-line friends
• attract clients for new service
• earn enough money to spend next winter in Thailand :D

Actually I thought I did worse than I actually did. I feel proud!

Thanks for this post Daffyduck! it prompted me to do it in my journal, and it's a great way to reflect, and really see how great things have been. and since I'm a super-speedy typist, I'll do it here as well..

This is my mid-season report card.. I give myself a B minus overall..

So far 2009 hasn't been my best year yet, but I've been getting back to NZ life from a working holiday in London and around UK and Europe last year, so have been re-building myself. Hopefully in 6 months time though, I will say that 2009 has been my best year yet.

OK achievements;

1/ 4 cafes are displaying my artwork
2/ I started a prints business selling prints on trademe. At this rate, I should make over $1000 in profit, which isn't a lot of cash, but it is a useful addition and it's improveable
3/ I've completed many paintings on canvas and experimented in new styles
4/ Got accepted into the affordable art show
5/ Established myself working from home online for my UK company
6/ Kept up with old friends, and had some great parties
7/ Saved money while living at home with parents (although gone insane in the process)
8/ Started doing Parkour (free-running) occasionally. Might start doing it consistently when I have time
9/ Played a lot of streetball (street basketball) and find myself winning mainly
10/ Kept jogging approximately 3-4 times a week. Staying healthy on the whole, only 2-3 days feeling sick, but mainly staying health. Never really been seriously sick my whole adult life
11/ Completed a web design paper (almost) Got 2 x A+s and now I only have to finish the final paper worth 25%
12/ Bought a house! or sub-divided 2 bedroom apartment
13/ Went to see an amazing band play live, and got a bit lovey dovey with an amazing girl. Which leads to big rejections.
Big Rejection #1, didn't get to second date with that girl, got a kiss on the cheek, but she didn't want to meet again, (ignored email) but it was a huge motivator to improve myself and my life to find a new amazing girl and just generally for my life. Live my life with a purpose and passion, and not just live to get by and pay bills. As well, learn to not see things like this as such a big deal.
Big rejection #2, I almost got a job for NZs biggest website full time. They told me I almost got the job, but didn't meet all their criteria, but in the second peer group interview, on the way out they told me "you're awesome! you seem like a nice guy" A compliment that stuck and made me think that even when I don't fit the place I'm generally well liked by people.

So areas to work on for the second half of the year;
1/ Learn to accept rejection as a great learning curve.
2/ Have more fun, and smile more
3/ Live in the 'now' as much as possible, and possibly add meditation.. Don't dwell in my own thoughts too much
4/ Continually develop my artwork, take a look at my last 6 months of projects, and see where to go. Get working on more portraits, and get some commission drawing projects. Find more cafes to exhibit at, and possibly galleries.
5/ Keep working from home, and develop new web design contracts. Get my web design portfolio up
6/ Find a new part time job if I need to
7/ See more great live music
8/ Take up a new sport or 2
9/ Try speed dating to improve social skills, and possibly internet dating
10/ Find a new flatmate for my new house; someone I get along well with, and can respect space.
11/ Find many great new parties!
12/ Start getting into new music! and enjoying it!

That's about it from me!

Well, I'm alive, healthy, enjoying the summer. Making time to do the things I want to do. I don't even mind the bumps and turbulence, and find I'm giving them less and less attention - which is what "not minding" means. : ) I truly feel I'm in the right place, and moving in the right direction. On a big level I've begun a new period where I'm living even more the way I want to live. I would call that becoming more actualized.

All is well.

I'm actually doing really well. At the start of the year I was broke, unemployed, owed money to all my friends, was on the verge of being kicked out of my apartment, and hid inside my room a lot. Naturally my New Year's resolutions revolved around that.

And so far:
-Got a full time job washing dishes in the French Quarter, pay sucks but I like the people
-Lost about 30 pounds biking 10-12 miles a day(to and from work)
-Finally got consistent with my early rising, since I have to be at work at 7am
-Paid off 2 of 5 debts, and the biggest one, almost $1000, is now down to $225 remaining
-Got a new apartment, just as far from work but much nicer
-Unexpectedly started a casual relationship with a girl at work, after only being interested in guys for the past five years or so

The downsides:
-Stopped reading when I stopped having so much free time, my library account has a small fine on it I haven't bothered to pay off in months
-Not making enough art, working on it but progress is slow
-Spending too much money on food, maybe $130 a month when I used to get by on $80
-Barely ever meditating, although I have some new techniques that work pretty well
-Dream recall has dropped off, can't remember the last time I wrote down a dream

I feel like a much more... "Normal" person now, which is both good and bad. I'm trying to be a "normal" person around other people while being "out there" when I'm at home. We'll have to see how it goes.

Success and Results
I proposed to my fiancee
I created and expanded my website
I am still lifting quite often and I am stronger than I've ever been

Areas to Stregthen
I still read too much, write too little
I do not take as much time as I should to be reflective and journal
There is room for improvement at work
My sleep patterns have been off since December.

Excellent thread!!

Great stuff, everyone. I have enjoyed reading your responses. In six months hopefully I'll remember to bother each and every one of you and ask how you've been! :D ;)

Well, I've got a stinkin' cold and it hurts, and my intention is to not have any more colds. Six months from now will be an excellent time to check in on that goal.

Ah-chooo!

Come on, Angela, you can do much better than be a victim of a cold :).

Where are you, goal wise? Spit it out! :D

Funny you should use this particular term. There are a couple of old beliefs that I don't need anymore that it's time to spit out, along with all that phlegm (yechhhh! :D)

My fever broke last night, something let go, my dreams were incredibly vivid and helpful, and I feel ALIVE again! Yay!

Thanks, Spirit. ;)

I'm having an awesome year so far.

I'm starting to see the seeds of the issues I've been dealing with grow into something more solid.

De nada, Angela. I used another term first, but it didn't feel right. When I typed this one it felt OK. I don't know why.

But you still didn't tell us where you stand after 6 months ;)

@James, same for you. Some more details please! :D

Years ago I had pneumonia. I had to deal with colds. A cold could kill me back then. I had to do research until I found a book written by german researchers in medicine and psychology.

The book was about connections between psychological habits and diseases.

Infections are caused when you try to hide your problems and pretend they do not exist, because they are too overwhelming.

Louise Hay says colds are "too much going on at once; mental confusion and disorder." That sounds about right. Especially as this one had me just down for the count, mentally -- it was great fun letting go of figuring things out and saying things to people like, "YOU decide. I'll go along with whatever you decide." Got some great soup that way, too!

Hmm. I think I'll stick with this belief: Infection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I do think stress can weaken your immune system, though.

Great topic!
This year started on a down beat for me, after an unbelievable 2008 and then total chaos in December :P . I, too, was newly out of work, in debt, barely scraping by and conscious thought processes were at an all-time low.
Little did I realize that the Universe knocked me on my rear end in order to spur some amazing spiritual growth...it was not the 'theme' I had planned but I guess I don't know what's best for myself :D

Go Go 2009:
-My spiritual growth has been the most evident. I'm proud to say that I've clarified my beliefs, experimented with prayer and meditation (I can do more, though) and started to bring my life into alignment with those beliefs
-I've been exercising more consistently. I can bring more focus to it, maybe by setting a goal or taking on a challenge, but my fitness base is growing stronger
-My personal relationships are on the uptick...I re-fortified my relationship with my old friends and my siblings, whom I love, and have arrived at a place of understanding with my parents
-I've kept a simple lifestyle

Try Again 2009
-My diet has been atrocious...some days very good, other days not so much. I'm going to work on consistency and moving toward 90% raw by the end of the year
-My finances are in shambles and my debt is not being serviced very well. I'm operating in the red. I need to work through some seriously limiting beliefs/behaviors regarding money and establish new habits. I'm reading a lot of literature, though, and educating myself. It's a start.
-I have lost interest in my current profession and hating going to work every day, but I'm a bit stuck as to how to move into something new. I have an intuitive feeling that I might have to move to a different part of the country to immerse myself in it, which would take its toll on my personal relationships that I've been working on. Any advice with that?
-My purpose and vision are murky right now, but my spiritual growth has begun to offer some insight

Wow, I was feeling like this year has been a bit craptacular, a let-down, but writing all of the positives showed me how good it actually has been! Plus, the miserable moments have been the most fertile for growth. Cool!
:)

Positives

1. I bought a new house. It's still under construction. It will be 4 storeys tall with a basement. Very big and nice, and there's a 30-metre shared swimming pool practically at my doorstep.

2. I published a book. In fact it was launched last Friday. The book launch was very successful; a nice big crowd, and very positive feedback. Lots of support from friends and family too.

3. I focused on delivering outstanding performance at work; survived two rounds of jobs cuts in my department; and I think I'm now perceived as performing a relatively more important function in my workplace.

4. I regularly spent time reading story books in two languages to my two little children and both of them are growing to be fluent in both languages. We had a great time and a lot of fun as part of the storytelling too.

5. I started running regularly again in January and have kept it up until now. I also took part in one running event.

6. My blog on current affairs continues to do well and I achieved a new readership high in May (70,000+).

7. I received a bonus of $85,000 this year which is much smaller than my bonus in the previous year. However I am very happy & grateful with it because the economy is so bad.

8. I developed a routine of meeting up with my parents regularly and spending time together. We meet every Saturday morning at a sports stadium to exercise, and then we have breakfast.

9. I continue to grow in my experience and knowledge of the LOA.

----------------------------

I am in the midst of reorganising my thoughts and intentions for the next half of the year.

Great results, ALG.

I notice you don't want to write down any "negatives." Understandable. ;)

:p

Okay, I will share.

Negatives

1. I had a bit of a problem with high blood pressure this year. I'm not on medication, but my doctor said that I have to watch my diet, exercise and all that. I'm fluctuating between normal and Stage 1 hypertension.

2. For a few months there was quite a bit of recurring disharmony in my home, arising mainly out of issues with the maid. My wife felt that the maid was very incompetent, I thought that the maid was not that bad and that my wife was too fussy. After quite a few arguments, we finally sacked the maid last week.

3. On the good side, my son grew out of his eczema. On the bad side, my daughter got it. :mad:

4. I got backstabbed quite badly by one person in my workplace. Several other people had already warned me about her, but I found it disturbing that I had somehow attracted this person into my reality.

5. I think I neglected my spiritual growth somewhat.