This is an exciting time for me. I love the feeling of a fresh start that the new year brings. I enjoy prayerfully deciding what I want to accomplish in the next year and then setting goals to achieve it.

People have their own process for planning for the upcoming year. For instance, Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love, follows his 48 days theme and has his new year aspirations determined in November, 48 days before the end of the year. He feels that it is necessary to have the year planned before it actually begins, kind of like Dave Ramsey recommends having every dollar spent on paper (budget) prior the beginning of the month.

Michael Hyatt, whose podcast I listen to regularly, spends the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day to reflect and review the year that is ending and then establish his desired goals for the upcoming year. The important thing is not the process, but that there is a process.

Many people make New Year’s resolutions. Chris Osborn, in his Coaching Compass newsletter, recommends changing the resolution to intention. He says that a resolution is about doing, but intention is about being.

Osborn states, “An intention is a positive directional desire grounded in a goal. It artfully recognizes the journey of change and begs the question of how an intention is going to be supported. It is by its nature, less declarative and softer than a resolution. Therein lies its power. An intention opens the door for individuals and coaches to explore a desire, ask deep questions and ultimately, organically, build a support structure to explore and fuel positive change.”

Whether you choose to set specific goals, or to declare a positive intention, I sincerely hope that you are making plans to experience your best year yet in 2014. That will help you to live . . . life to the fullest.