Tips for the New
Year/New World 
By Corinne McLaughlin
How can this New Year’s be the best yet—despite dire predictions?
It can be truly joyful and filled with meaning and magic if you
recognize the seeds of a New World growing both within you and in the
world around you. Nurture these seeds and watch them grow—they will
amaze you! Here are some keys to experiencing the New World in this New
Year:
1.
Keep
your eyes on the horizon, but your feet on the ground:
this is the year of big changes when you need to be especially practical
and grounded. Keep focused on a positive vision of the future, while
paying close attention details and to the next steps you need to take.
Be a practical visionary!
2.
Understand the higher evolutionary plan:
meditate on the big picture and ask about your life purpose and
contribution to a better world. If you focus first on your values and
your priorities, everything else will be so much clearer and easier, as
you’ll see how it all fits together.
3.
Focus
on solutions, not problems:
scan for breakthrough solutions by the thousands of heroic
innovators—they will inspire you to be creative in solving your own
challenges. A daily dose of positive media and real life examples will
fill you with hope and keep your spirits high.
4.
Create a sense of community for mutual support:
wherever you are,
bring people together around a common purpose and share ideas, tools,
resources, spiritual practices, etc. Community is a verb, not a noun—an
intention and an attitude that will get you through any difficulty.
5.
Practice appreciation and generosity:
notice all the good things in your life you are grateful for—this will
help them grow and expand. As you give more, it will help you recognize
your interconnection with others and experience more detachment from
material things.
6.
Find
the grain of truth on each side of an argument:
you can transcend dualities and adversarial positions by appreciating
the underlying unity in everything. Practice seeing many points of view
so you can be wiser and more effective in our increasingly polarized
world.
7.
Search for common ground in any conflict:
explore common interests and find mutually beneficial solutions to
conflicts. If you work on understanding the differences, but acting on
the commonalities, you’ll be amazed at the results.
8.
Be
fully present in each moment:
let go of worries about the past and future, as you are helping create
the future both personally and collectively right now through your
thoughts and actions. Nothing is predetermined about the future, so
take a few deep breaths when you feel stressed and listen to your heart.
9.
Make
friends with your subconscious,
sending it love each day: appreciate all its practical resources
and positive intent. It’s always trying to protect you and make you
feel safe and happy, but you can teach it more enlightened strategies
and help it evolve to fulfill your shared soul purpose.
10.
Trust
in a benevolent universe and the light within you:
it will guide you through this coming year in ways you’d never expect.
Be flexible and open so you can dance with the changes coming your way!
--From
The Practical Visionary: A New World Guide to Spiritual Growth and
Social Change:
www.thepracticalvisionary.org
