Mike Robbins' Appreciation in Action

An email newsletter designed to give you
insights and techniques for greater success and fulfillment.

Hello!

Welcome to another issue of Appreciation in Action! I hope this email finds you and those around you enjoying this wonderful time of year. I acknowledge you for successfully completing another year of this incredible journey we call life. Whatever happened for you in 2005 – good or bad – you made it and here you are. Congratulations!

Happy New Year!

With Appreciation and Gratitude,

Appreciating This Past Year

There is something magical about this time of year and this week before the new year starts in particular. In these days leading up to the end of the year, I really enjoy taking the time to reflect on the past year of my life and to appreciate all that I have accomplished and learned. As much as I love this process, I usually have mixed emotions reflecting back on the year as well. There is excitement, gratitude, and joy for all of the things that I did accomplish. There is also sadness, disappointment, and sorrow over the things that I did not accomplish, the things and people I will miss, and the places in my life where I failed. However, regardless of how the year went, there is always a great deal to appreciate if I focus on it.

At this time of year, it is so important for us to look back and appreciate this past year of our life – regardless of what happened. If we have accomplished lots of wonderful things, it is important for us to take the time to pat ourselves on the back and to celebrate our success. If we have overcome challenging obstacles, it is essential for us to acknowledge ourselves and the courage it took for us to move beyond these difficulties. And, even if we have failed miserably, we can take some time to reflect upon the important lessons we have learned through our failure and how it will make us a stronger and better person in the long run.

As 2005 comes to a close, each and every one of us has a great deal to be grateful for and to appreciate about this past year. On a daily basis we often spend a good amount of time and energy focused on what is not working, what we don’t like, and where things need to be improved. At this magical time of year, something important and powerful for us to do is to stop, look back, and appreciate the accomplishments, blessings, challenges, lessons, and even failures from this past year. Taking time to appreciate this past year not only will make us feel good about ourselves and the year itself, it is also a necessary process for us to effectively create our goals and intentions for the new year.

Take time this week to “complete” your year. Make a long list of all of the things that you appreciate from 2005…all of your successes, accomplishments, and blessings. For the things that happened this year that you do not “appreciate” (i.e. failures, challenges, losses, disappointments, etc.) list those things out as well and write down what you learned from each of them. It may not be so easy to appreciate some of these challenges, but it is usually possible to appreciate the lessons that you learned.

On or around New Year’s Eve (12/31/05), share your list with someone else. Say everything you need to say about this past year so that you can leave it in the past. When you are done sharing everything that you appreciate and all that you learned during 2005, say something like “I declare this past year complete.” By doing this, you will be able to both celebrate and appreciate this past year and at the same time put it behind you in a way that will lead to more success and fulfillment in 2006. Happy New Year…Have fun!

Holiday discount available on all products (through 12/31/05):
From now until the 31st of December, you will receive a discount on each of the products you purchase through my online store. My Power of Appreciation CD is just $15.00 (discounted from $19.95). The Winning Strategies box-set is only $39.95 (discounted from $49.95). And, Chicken Soup for the Single Parent’s Soul is just $10.00 (discounted from $12.95). Click the link below and receive these great discounts by 12/31/05.
http://www.mike-robbins.com/online-store.htm

Year-end/year-beginning coaching sessions available:
Feel free to contact me if you would like to set up a special one-on-one coaching session with me as you complete 2005 and create 2006. In this one-hour session, we will discuss your top accomplishments and lessons from 2005, your main goals for 2006, and come up with an action plan for you to make your 2006 goals happen. Book this session by 12/31/05 and receive a special fee of $100 (discounted from $150) for this coaching session. To schedule this session, send an email to mike@mike-robbins.com. For more information on my coaching services and approach, click the link below and visit the coaching page on my website.
http://www.mike-robbins.com/coaching.htm

About Mike Robbins
Mike Robbins is an expert in success, teamwork, and the power of appreciation. As a former professional baseball player and Internet advertising sales executive, as well as a life-long student of personal development, Mike brings a varied and impressive background to the clients with whom he works. Through his keynotes, seminars, writing, and one-on-one coaching, Mike empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to be more productive, appreciative, and successful. Feel free to contact Mike for more information about his speaking and coaching programs.

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“ Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ”

—William Arthur Ward