"In the fertile soil of these first few days of 2006, I would like to support you in laying the internal foundation for a deeply satisfying and rewarding year ahead. As many wise sages have said, the greatest predictor of the future is the past. It is my belief that once we learn the lessons of the past - and are willing to really "get" those lessons - we don't have to repeat them. Our souls are always trying to get us to evolve. And just how do we evolve? Through learning the lessons of our past - recognizing them, owning them and incorporating what we know into our lives. So let's walk together through a simple exercise that will reap huge rewards for you in the months to come.

Look Through the Eyes of the Universe

Take a deep, centering breath, and say to the universe: "I know you have a very important lesson for me - my soul's lesson. There is something very important that you've been trying to teach me through the experiences, circumstances and people you've put in front of me. I acknowledge that this lesson is imperative for me to learn in order to have 2006 truly be a new new year and not a year of disappointing repetition. What is that one lesson?"

Your New Internal State

Imagine that your soul is hungry. It's starving for a state of being - an internal environment for you to live in each day. What are the feelings that you most desire to have in 2006? With a deep breath and big exhale, ask yourself: "What is the internal environment that I'm longing to live inside of?" Is it an environment of love, peace, quiet, safety, freedom, happiness, joy, aliveness? For example, one of my staff members saw that she wanted to live in an environment of inner peace, and in that space there would be a feeling of certainty for her. As you listen for answers, continue to ask your soul to reveal what it hungers for. And in the days and weeks ahead, it can be helpful to look inside several times a day and gently ask yourself: "Am I cultivating that feeling - that internal state?"

An Internal Shift

What two thoughts or beliefs would you have to let go of in order to create that environment? Could it be letting go of what other people think of you? Or the belief that you're not good enough, not worthy, not safe, or not loved?

An External Shift

What would have to shift in your external world to support that new internal environment? What two habits or behaviors would you have to let go of in order to create your desired internal environment? People-pleasing, pleasure-seeking, procrastination, disorganization, staying in an unhealthy relationship, overworking?

Integrity Anchors

What two action steps are you willing to take this week to create this internal environment? Choose two simple actions that will serve as anchors to your nourishing inner state. Perhaps it's creating a new morning ritual, taking a brisk daily walk, attending Weight Watchers, playing a special piece of music for yourself, ten minutes of nightly meditation, or scheduling the time to get radically organized so you can handle your busy life with ease.

Miraculous New Beginnings

What, you may ask, will be available to you by learning the lessons, letting go and leaving the past where it belongs? I believe that God is always inviting us to re-create our lives anew. By embracing the significant lessons of 2005, you're saying yes to miraculous new beginnings. So really use this time to clean up your past, embrace your dark and welcome your light. Our souls are always guiding us so that we can evolve to that next level of consciousness. It can be oddly reassuring to know that there are bumps in the road to every new level of consciousness. And there are always new insights to be discovered and new actions to be taken as we evolve our internal states. There's some work to do, but the payoffs will be profound. I look forward to hearing about your new beginnings as we travel into 2006 together."

-- Debbie Ford, in a public email, DebbieFord.com