I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions and I finally realized why (and it's not just that I can't stick to them!). Most New Year’s resolutions have to do with something that we don’t like about ourselves (our weight, our “bad” habits), something we lack (money, time ) or something that we don’t have (a job, a soul mate). It’s all too depressing! I then remembered that instead of making New Year's resolutions, a friend of mine chooses a word for the upcoming year. Unlike ‘resolutions’ that focus on our weaknesses and what’s missing in our lives, the New Year’s 'word' sets an intention and a tone for the upcoming year. This seemed to me to be a much more inspiring way to start off the new year. So what was my word going to be for 2007?

It made me think of something another friend told me a few years ago: “ One day I opened my fridge and I noticed that I had a litre of milk on the shelf. And then I noticed that behind that litre of milk was another litre of milk. It suddenly occurred to me how often I open up the fridge and take out the milk without even thinking about it where it came from and how fortunate I am to have food so readily available. I just stopped for a moment and felt gratitude and appreciation for what I usually take totally for granted." When my friend told me this story, it hit me that I probably spend 90% of my life thinking about or doing things related to what I want to have or what I want to be. How often do I really step back and just appreciate what I have, who I am and where I'm at? I just read that if we looked at the world as a village of 100, 5 people would control 32% of the world's wealth, 80 people would live in substandard housing, 24 people would not have electricity, 67 people would be unable to read and only 1 would have a college education. Guess I have more than a few things to be grateful for!

So, I decided that my word for 2007 would be gratitude. I would remind myself to be still, to notice and appreciate. Thinking about all that I was grateful for didn’t stop me from wanting to evolve, achieve and accomplish, but some of the stresses and pressures to build a business, to make more money, to achieve and succeed seemed to loosen their grip on me. I am convinced that if we build our lives, run our businesses and create our financial plans from a foundation of gratitude and appreciation for who we are and where we are at right now, there's no limit to what we can achieve.

I'm a big fan of a book called "The Soul of Money" by Lynne Twist and she believes that true abundance flows from sufficiency and the recognition of enough. "What we appreciate, appreciates". So, if we are grateful, then we are already 'full' (even for a moment) - and, like the elusive romantic partner, prosperity and abundance are much more likely to seek us out if we aren't running toward them in desperation and in need.

One of the best ways to start taking control of your finances is by educating and empowering yourself about money. The Women’s Financial Learning Centre offers a variety of financial planning and money related courses for women who want to learn more about money management, investing and financial planning.

Upcoming events in Vancouver:

Build Your Own Financial Plan
6 week financial coaching program
February 13 - April 24th, 2007 (Every 2nd Tuesday from 6:30 - 8:30 pm)

Investing With Confidence 101
An introduction to investing
Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Financial Markets - What's Really Going On
What you always wanted to know about stocks, bonds and mutual funds but were afraid to ask.
Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Are you looking for unbiased financial advice? One of the reasons that people shy away from using a financial planner is they are afraid that the advice may be biased toward a particular product or service. LifeDesign Financial is a "fee-only" financial planning and education company and we don’t receive fees or commissions for financial products or services. We offer hourly consultations or service packages and can tailor a program to meet your unique needs and budget. Contact us today for a complimentary ½ hour phone consultation to find out how we can help you take charge of your money.

Juliet Austin, MA, is a Marketing Coach, Consultant and Copywriter who assists counsellors and healing professionals (and the odd financial planner) in marketing their services and products. As a Coach/Consultant, she assists her clients in developing and implementing no or low-cost marketing strategies for both on and off the Internet.

As a Copywriter, Juliet specializes in writing compelling website copy intended to get website visitors to take action. A former counsellor herself, Juliet understands the difficulties and fears many in the helping and healing professions face when marketing their services. She has helped numerous professionals move from frustration and hopelessness to building a full and rewarding practice.

You can sign up for Juliet's helpful free, 22-page report, "67 Surefire Ways to Attract Clients" at http://www.juliet austin.com

You can also visit her two blogs:

Marketing a Private Practice Blog at: http://www.marketingaprivatepractice.com

Website Design and Promotion Blog at: http://www.websitedesignandpromotion.com for alternative health, healing and socially responsible businesses, co-authored with Web Designer/Developer, Nathaniel Richman, of nrichmedia.