““One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.
‘Which road do I take?’ she asked.
‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.
‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.”
”
How to Have an Amazing Year
Simple, do Amazing things
Plan these in, look forward to them with positive anticipation and after the event look back savouring the memories.
Watch this short video.
https://youtu.be/MTgg37r_F9Q
As shared in the video, we went to a Candlelight Concert on the theme of Bollywood. The benefit of planning and doing amazing things was that we looked forward to the experience. This gave a positive feeling and we went with the expectation it would be a good experience.
During the event we were present and mindful, appreciating the ambience of the venue and wonderful talent of the musicians.
After the event, we are able to savour the memory as we share it with others. This leads to a positive, good mood.
I am looking to have at least one Amazing experience each month.
Let me know if you have any suggestions.
What are you looking forward to, have planned, what were highlights and learning from last year?
As in previous years, they will be to foster Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social and Spiritual wellbeing. Step out of comfort zone, learn, develop skills and grow. Be of service. Create memories and have joy.
Currently planned and some of the benefits/reasons :
Meditation & Mindfulness Day and Breathwork Workshop : Learning, skill development and supporting my friend who is running the workshops. This enables cultivating good working relationships with other practitioners.
Looking Back, Looking Forward Workshop : Expand my comfort zone as it will be the first time I will be doing in-person, service to community.
London City Walking Tour With 5 friends : Enjoy a prize I won in a raffle. Treat some friends to an experience around their birthdays. Make the most of the day out creating positive memories, social connection and spending quality time together.
Gratitude for Wellbeing at North Finchley Library : Deliver a workshop in a new venue. Cultivating good working relationships. Continue the working relationship with Mind in Enfield and Barnet and also serve the Happy Life Habits mission.
Sound Healing session : Attend some Sound Healing /Bath sessions run by people I know
A few weeks travel abroad to visit family : A break from norm and a change in scene. Allowing social connection and a time for learning.
Visit with family and friends to watch a new play “Comedy about Spies” : Fun experience full of laughter. Spending quality time with friends and family.
ABBA Voyage Concert : Enjoy excellent music to sing along to that will make me feel good.
Self Renewal Luxury Retreat @ The Vedanta : Enjoy delivering the workshops and also having a relaxing time at this retreat, in a wonderful venue with like minded souls.
In addition: Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, achievements, time in nature, time with family, friends and community.
Happy Life Habits events to look forward to :
Social Connection dinner/lunch : one event in first half of the year near International Day of Happiness March 20th and another in the second half near Thanksgiving around the forth Thursday in November.
30 Day Gratitude & Journaling Habit Immersion Training course : our lifechanging flagship course that helps develop and benefit from a regular gratitude habit, a journaling habit, a morning and evening routine. One training course to be held in the first half of the year and another in the second half of the year.
Positive Grief Talk during National Grief Awareness Week in December
Gratitude Practice on WhatsApp : On 1st January we launched a 10 Day Gratitude Challenge for the first time on WhatsApp. Each day a different gratitude theme/question to contemplate on and share reflections. The feedback on the experience from the participants was excellent. Summarised as :
A different and moving experience beyond individual practice that helps you go deeper in your practice, think outside the box, be inspired from insights from others perspective, see our common humanity and make a positive difference to your day
All respondents to the poll rated it 5/5 - Amazing/Awesome/Transformative
The intention is to run a Gratitude Practice each month on WhatsApp. Join here.
Self Renewal Luxury Retreat : Following on from our first Self Renewal Luxury Retreat in September 2024 which was well received, with an average 9/10 rating by the participants, we are running another one on 8-10th November 2025.
Invest in your self-renewal at our retreats designed to re-energise, refresh and rejuvenate your wellbeing whilst connecting with like-minded people for an unforgettably meaningful experience in a beautiful countryside setting.
Happiness Boosters / Coaching / Talks / Workshops as and when booked by organisations and corporates
Even as I write this and think about the plans for this year it brings a positive and optimistic feeling.
Hiccups / Spontaneous / Expectations
Undoubtable some things will not go to plan. Things may get cancelled, postponed, delayed due to things outside your control or your own doing. You may become unwell, a friend can’t make, tube strike that could hamper the journey and so forth.
That is life. That’s ok.
The plans may go better and if they do not, I’ll step back to see the big picture and learn from the experience.
By planning, organising and expecting the best, I feel in control and have a better time leading up to the event or experience. We get what we focus on.
You need to be flexible to spontaneous opportunities. Sometimes these are the best. Such as a friend popping over unannounced, or a last minute shout to go out for a meal or chance encounter and conversation.
Many say, especially spiritual teachings that we should not have expectations as can cause disappointment and emotions when not met.
I think expectations themselves are not the issue but an attachment to the expectation or outcome is.
By expecting the best, we look for the best and also show up as our best helping to make it the best.
If it does not work out as expected, the quicker we are able to accept the situation and learn from it the better for us.
Planning allows us to feel in control of our lives, gives us an opportunity to enjoy looking forward to the experience, Enjoy while it happens and savour it after the event. Triple benefit from the one event. Now that’s a good return.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
There is much merit in looking back and review the past year. It allows us to learn from, celebrate and let go to move forward in the new year. We can see patterns, remember highlights and observe growth.
Looking forward allows us to plan, dream, visualise, prepare and the most out of the new year.
For a number of years I do an end of year review and often mid year too. Life is at a hectic pace that we can sometime lose track of what has happened.
Looking Back, Looking Forward Workshop inc. lunch Sunday 26 January 2025 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
What is the wisest decision I made in 2024?
This is one of the questions from the Year Compass booklet we will look at in the workshop and capture in the booklet.
The Looking Back, Looking Forward Workshop is a great way to review the year.
The workshop includes:
- The YearCompass workbook
- In person session in NW London (limited spaces)
- Lunch (Vegetarian/Vegan)
What will you give you time, energy and attention?
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." - Jim Rohn
We will do structured review and planning
- a structured review of the last year using a workbook to look at various themes including personal life, work/studies, hobbies, friends, health, emotional, spiritual, finances etc.
- Capture learning, moments, challenges, achievements
- Consider what we want to let go
- Focus on new year via various themes including personal life, work/studies, hobbies, friends, health, emotional, spiritual, finances etc.
Questions to guide and focus such as
About Last Year :
What is the wisest decision I made?
The biggest thing I completed?
About this Year:
I am ready to let of of these 3 things ...
This year I will not procrastinate any more over...
Capture it in the YearCompass to refer to during the year and thereafter.
What are you looking forward to, have planned, what were highlights and learning from last year?
Year Review / Planning Resources
Here are videos/podcasts/articles and tools I have found beneficial for planning, goals and habits
Mel Robbins : How to Make Next Year the Best Year: Ask Yourself These 7 Questions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm6oJwpuOYc
Oprah Winfrey - How to Finally Change Your Life in 2025
https://youtu.be/v7VWqwCSc08?si=VzcWReIaIIUQ9p2B
Joshua Becker - 12 Unique Resolutions https://youtu.be/d3Ry0zbYnsU?si=2T48caakMdMWuVXp
Jim Kwik - 5 Steps for a Limitless Life in 2025 https://youtu.be/Vc-tuW85uHo?si=pPrk1ZaIIYaFr2nz
Andrew Huberman 6 small habits can CHANGE your life in 2025 (21 day plan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEq-AYSRFHE
Dr Rangan Chatterjee How To Completely Change Your Life In 2025 - 5 Habits You'll Actually Use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2k7FO6hNr4
How to Make Next Year the Best Year: Ask Yourself These 7 Questions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm6oJwpuOYc
Oprah Winfrey - How to Finally Change Your Life in 2025
https://youtu.be/v7VWqwCSc08?si=VzcWReIaIIUQ9p2B
Joshua Becker - 12 Unique Resolutions https://youtu.be/d3Ry0zbYnsU?si=2T48caakMdMWuVXp
Jim Kwik - 5 Steps for a Limitless Life in 2025 https://youtu.be/Vc-tuW85uHo?si=pPrk1ZaIIYaFr2nz
Andrew Huberman 6 small habits can CHANGE your life in 2025 (21 day plan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEq-AYSRFHE
How To Completely Change Your Life In 2025 - 5 Habits You'll Actually Use | Dr Rangan Chatterjee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2k7FO6hNr4
Some planner tools
Join the Happy Life Habits WhatsApp Community - more regular sharing done here.
Shaileen Shah - Happy Life Habits Coach, Speaker & Trainer
Happy Life Habits rewires hearts & minds for better productivity, happiness and wellbeing in 10 minutes a day. We help you move out of the comfort zone and into the learning/growth zones. Our products and services help develop habits and continuous personal development.
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Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
Happy Life Habits Positively Impacting Happiness & Wellbeing Levels