My 3 Guiding Themes For 2013
For the past three years (and actually a whole lot longer before that too) it’s felt like the dictating themes of my life have been structure, discipline and healing. Those themes served me then, being what was needed to initiate my complete lifestyle transformation, but I feel like I’ve now outgrown them. In fact, at the moment I feel as though structure is one theme that will work against me if I don’t let go of it to a certain extent. My body is craving freedom. It’s craving the unbounded bliss that ricochets from pure, unrestricted fun.
Feeding my body with the best quality foods is now so much part of my lifestyle that doing anything besides this feels unnatural. I’ve got this part of my healing repertoire down. To me, this is the ultimate form of self respect. However, now I recognise that I need to wake up and amuse the playful child that has been waiting patiently inside of me while I diligently adhered to Gerson Therapy and my rigid cancer-healing plan.
So, in 2013 I’m not making any resolutions. I’m barely setting goals. There are certain things I want to create in my life this year, but mostly I’m letting three central themes act as pegs to hold down the billowing canopy of my awesome life. I’ve just re-created my vision board with these themes.
1. FUN + FREEDOM
I’m feeling a major pull towards injecting more adventure and play into my daily life. This year I want to learn to surf, have a go at stand-up paddle boarding, climb more mountains, go glamping (aka glam camping), see live music, dance, paint, sing, and go on holiday to island destinations like the Maldives and Vanuatu.
2. KINDNESS + COMPASSION
I truly believe that kindness is the foundation of an amazing life – kindness to ourselves and kindness to others. And under this umbrella also lies compassion. If we want to be really happy, we need to be compassionate and release judgement. Again, this includes ourselves and others. These have been common themes in my life previously, but they are so important that they’re being highlighted even more this year. My aim is especially to release judgement and look at everything, everyone, and all situations with a loving, kind and compassionate perspective.
3. DOING THINGS THAT SCARE ME
In 2012 I faced my fear of heights by going skydiving, and I faced my fear of public speaking by telling my story to crowds of people. I really had to force myself to do these things, but I’ve never once regretted it. These experiences have only deepened my belief that whenever something scares the absolute bejesus out of me, it’s a sure sign that the fear instigator is what I need to face next in order to expand. My fears are the metrics of future growth.
NEED EXTRA HELP MAPPING OUT 2013?
In all of my hours of trawling the internet, I’ve stumbled upon some really awesome resources for discovering exactly what it is that you want to create in 2013. It’s one thing to set goals, but if these goals are things you don’t truly want deep down in your soul, they just won’t happen. And if they do happen, the validation won’t be there.
Here are some awesome guides if you feel you need help …
The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte. This is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I spent a huge chunk of my holidays working through this program to discover exactly how I want to feel in 2013, and then working out what I need to do to make it happen. The result is the themes in this blog post.
Leonie Dawson’s Incredible Year Workbook and Planner. If you’re after an extremely smart and soulful voice to guide you through your yearly map, Leonie is your gal. She also has a Business Edition available and they’re just $9.95.
Unravelling The Year Ahead by Susannah Conway. This one’s a freebie!
Have you thought about what themes you would like to see running through your year this year? I would love to hear about them! Go nuts with your thoughts and comments in the section below.
Positive affirmation for the day: My life is an extension of my thoughts. I am creating incredible things.
Like this post? Share the love!
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Google+
POSTED IN: 2013, goals, resolutions, themes
join the tribe
Join the green mo revolution! Subscribe to get Jess's updates & Green Mo Revolution e-book FREE with over 80 green smoothie recipes!
Write a Reply
You are such an inspiration Jess 
I love The Desire Map, I spent my holidays working on it too Jess
I’m also focusing on more fun and freedom in 2013 – I want to lighten up this year, in every sense!
Hi Jess,
Great post to kick of 2013, thank you.
I have been a silent witness/admirer of your offerings for some time now. I respect your knowledge and I wonder if you would be willing to share the name of any high quality probiotic products you may know about. I am not too sure about Kombucha tea at this stage.
Many thanks and warm wishes
Hey Jess!
My themes are similar …
I really want to start creating freedom in that I want to bring more of “doing what I want to do everyday”. So I’ve enrolled in Bschool so that I can create the abundance to support me doing more of what I want to do rather than having to go to work because “I should” and I have to be there at “this time” and do “these things”.
I’m also bringing this theme to my health and fitness and instead of forcing myself to go for a run because “I should” I’m choosing to move because I want to stay young till I’m 120 and I’m choosing what I want to do to stay fit … whether it be yoga one day, or a stroll on the beach, or a swim or a bike ride or maybe even a run, but choosing what I want to do!
I also want to add more creativity in my life because for me this is play scribbling a little drawing or getting the paints out and playing around with them, and I’m certain Bschool will bring loads of creativity into my life.
Thanks for sharing your themes I’m excited to watch you share your journey over the year xx
Mish
You star! I love this idea of focusing on guiding themes. I’m nutting out my plan for this year right now and the idea of adventure keeps coming up. So adventure it is! Come and get me 2013!
You are an inspiration Jess, thank you very much. Happy New Year!
Jess:
Awesome! Wishing you gushes of “pure, unrestricted fun” in this year and all future ones.
I feel the bulk of my year will be spent in deep appreciation and gratitude towards nature. In particular on my walks and meditations I will now be deeply listening to nature and sending her lots of love. And there may be some tree hugging going on as well
Love and Blessings–
ohhhh i got Leonies workbook last week and am taking time out each day to use it – it truly is amazing! I’m off to check out Danielle LaPortes also, i have heard many many wonderful things about her!
This year for me is centered alot around health, fitness and career. With job insecurity, the finishing of my first degree, moving back in with the parents with my partner to save for a house – i need to learn to balance, and have heard my body tell me LOUD AND CLEAR (!) this only comes when it is being looked after properly!!
Love this Jess. I also did Danielle’s desire map – what a super awesome different way to think about your goals for the year!
My core desired feelings for 2013 are:
1. Contentment, happiness, peacefulness
2. Being cherished & loved
3. Positive purpose/making a difference to the world!
X
Would love to see a pic of your update vision board 
Love this pic of us xxxxxxx
Thanks for these Jess.
2013 is the first year of the rest of my ‘new’ life after recovering from a breast cancer diagnosis last year…this is going to be the first year that I truley start living and not just existing. I’m going to:-
believe in myself and nourish myself;
extend myself and do things that scare me;
start exercising again and make going to yoga a habit;
invest in myself by furthering my education in holistic health and lifestyle so that I can help other breast cancer survivors in the future;
practice gratitude daily.
stay well xxooxx
My wife is a surf instructor just sayin…
This is wonderful, so much better than setting goals and making resolutions (vom!), here are the ones Ive been thinking about recently:
1. Healing my limiting beliefs and blocks to stepping into my full potential
2. Finding clarity in what I am about, what my message is and how that can help others (and earn me a living)
3. Being gentle with myself and my loved ones
Love it! I’ve ordered the Desire Map and am waiting for my book… I’ve listened to the Audio Book and it’s got me really excited! And I’m a member of Leonie’s Goddess Circle so I’ve got the Incredible Year Workbook which I will complete after I go through the Desire Map process. I think they will work beautifully together! Much love xx
I LOVE Danielle Laporte too! My big goal for 2013 is to complete my book and really focus on my passion – and so I’ve just started her Big Beautiful Book Plan. I’m three pages into it, and feel so excited!
But thank you Jess for the reminder that it’s all about how you FEEL and not necessarily the ticking off of goals from a list of achievements that matter.
x
My words for this year are here: http://juliemaloney.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/my-words-for-2013.html My main word is connection. Connection to myself, my heart, my soul. Connection to my family. Connection to like minded people. People that are interested in health and happiness. I have Leonie’s workbooks and calenders and love them. Wishing you and your readers Jess, an amazing year! xxoo
This is so beautiful. Your words always prompt me to reflect.
2013 – I want to live in the space of pure potentiality, as deepak chopra calls it, where I embrace fear and inspire plus uplift the people I am blessed to come across.
I came across Jia Ni and her HappyHealthyAbundant website through these comments (she posts here). She also has a coaching course and a starter course. It’s worth a look.
Aloha Jess. I love your focus on nurturing your playful child within. That really feeds our creativity and we often end up achieving amazing things even if we didn’t intentionally set out to do so.
My goodness you always remind me to live big!
This year my goal is to fail a lot. Yep, I think racking up a lot of great fails means I’m trying and learning. I’m giving myself permission to fail which, for me, means I won’t be afraid to try!
Totally gorgeous Jess, love your images and your guiding themes for 2013. I am also giving up goals for 2013, and instead embracing more freedom and guidance. Love it!
You’re such an inspiration Jess.
Great post!
Aloha! Awesome you are getting in the water! You will see: yoga, breathing, surfing and your positive attitude are meant to be together! I wish you plenty of waves and joyful new year!
I love this post Jessica, so inspiring. This is similar to what i’m doing this year too. I did lots of things in 2012 which I was really nervous about and they turned out to be some of the best things i’ve ever done. So in 2013 i’ll be facing my fears, and following my dreams.
Thanks again for your lovely post. xx
These are great goals Jess! They are definitely ones I would like to focus on, too!
I just downloaded Leonie’s year workbook and planner, it looks amazeballs…thanks so much for suggesting Jess xx
Thank you once again Jess for an amazballs post. I cannot agree with you more about having a vision board, or setting goals, or whatever anyone wants to call it. I started planning out 2013 at the end of Nov because I had to block out chunks in the year for certain engagements and holidays. From this I decided that I best re-think and re-write my Mission & Goals for 2013. As of 1 January, two of my 7 (so far written goals) have been accomplished and I will have the 3rd completed before the month is out. I’m not here to to brag, just an example of how important it is to put down and visualise your goals and dreams. It also has led me to such wonderful ‘places’ such as your site. So thank you for being part of the positive network I have surrounding me.
Cheers
“pegs to hold down the billowing canopy of my awesome life”…wow what a great statement, love love love it!
Awesome as always!
Have to give those a go.
I want to be kinder to myself this year, take a little more care of myself both physically and spiritually and mentally – start to love myself so I can spread more love to the world around me!
And when doing this I most def have to do new things that scare me
Great post, Jess!
Jess, what an inspiring post !
Your year sounds totally deliciously fun and I know you will let us in on it as it unfolds !
You’ve earned it. I’m still in the healing phase. but I realize I have to put some of the stuff that really
turns me on to life- back into the mix…so that I can have the discipline to see through my health goals. (!!!)
I’m excited that you are going to paint !!!
I would love it if you would share some of your creations.
I paint. Well it’s one of those things I have to fit back into my life….
so if you want any feedback or have questions, you can email me or ask.
It’s my favorite subject ! Book you HAVE TO GET >>> The Art Spirit by Robert Henri.
I won’t say anything about it. It is a classic and speaks for itself. You may be all about fun and expression with art, but
this book will still deepen your experience and open you up to a new world.
I have been looking at paintings on ebay. It’s funny, cuz there is a lot of paintings that are really stuffy or commercial. but
there is also work that is beautiful, inspiring and from the heart. it’s been inspiring…just the variety and magnitude.
love,
sandra
Gorgeous! I love your focus on fun and freedom
Jess, THANK YOU! This article has been more valuable to me than you could ever imagine! I had a tough year last year and so decided to start this year with some broad desires and themes. However when I returned to work and was asked to announce my resolutions each time a work collegue had relayed their typical/traditional resolutions to me, they were uncomfortable with my answer. They asked further questions as if to try and probe my ‘hidden’ resolutions out from under a false shield. I could see that they were truly perplexed by it! And I started to wonder whether they were just eager to see whether I was looking to correct faults that they themselves had seen in me over the previous year… or that by not having any defined resolutions that it meant that i thought I was perfect… Anyway, your article has truly made my day as I really wanted to further explore these themes to give them better shape and I had no idea where to start. My weekend project is the inspiration board.
Thanks again Jess.
Corinne xx