IN THIS ISSUE:
 
I. Simplifying is a Process, Not a Project
II. Five Quick Tips
III. Linda In The News
IV. References

For many, each January begins with the tradition of make a hefty
list of New Year's Resolutions. Filled with hope and resolve, it's
a humble list filled with good intentions like pledges to do more
regular exercise, take a class, explore a new career path, read
more nonfiction, strengthen a relationship, get the garage
organized - you know the categories. Whether there are many
projects or few, January just seems like a great time to do this.

January is indeed a powerful symbol for new beginnings, and it can
be a wonderful time for reflection and setting a new course. But
I've noticed that sometimes New Year's Resolutions become a way to
beat up on ourselves or to add more expectations and "to do"s to
an already full plate. This self-imposed pressure can easily be a
setup for disappointment and feelings of failure when we don't
follow through with all we said we would.

One of the key principles in simplifying our lives is to actually
eliminate excess activities, annoyances and "tolerations" that get
in the way of creating our lives the way we want them to be. Some
of us are so busy with family, home, work and social commitments
that we feel trapped, overwhelmed and immobilized. While we may
aspire to new activities, projects and goals, it's hard to even
think about them clearly, much less prioritize or implement them,
until we first have cleared some space for them.

The truth is shaping our lives the way we want them is a process of
small deliberate steps and not necessarily a "resolution" project.
So this month, rather than creating a list of resolutions, I invite
you to instead envision your goals for the life you want live and
list smaller steps you can take to get there. To assist you, this
month's "Five Quick Tips" can help take you through a process
that's designed to be fun, effective and hopefully, pressure-free!

My best wishes for you are a peaceful and joyful New Year with a
life filled exactly with what you want.

Linda

1. Take a deep breath, relax and allow yourself to bring to mind
three to five areas of your life to consider. These might be
health, family, career, classes, social life, finances, spiritual
life, whatever shows up as important to you.

2. Write the name of each area at the top of a piece of paper.
Beneath each one, write a few sentences about your vision for
this area and the good you have already created or received.
Really let yourself feel and appreciate them.

3. Then write a few sentences about what's not going so well in
each area. Make a note of anything you would like to eliminate
or add along with any ideas for how you could do that.

4. After you've completed your thoughts, go back to each area's
list and choose one or two things that motivate or excite you
to get started right away. Write out your vision for each area
along with your first few action items and put it in a place
where you will see it every day.

5. Begin with these first items and as you complete one, add
another from your original list. It's going to be a good year
for you!

III. LINDA IN THE NEWS

Ann Braley-Smith interviewed me for her great December 2001 article
for MicronPC. Her "Simple Answers" is packed full of solid concepts,
great tips and valuable resources. Find out how just starting with
small steps can more easily lead to the goal of simplifying one's
life. This and other new articles can be read on my website by
clicking on "Linda In The News" at
http://www.simplifylife.com/i-news.html

IV. REFERENCES

To find more resources or to order these, go to
http://www.simplifylife.com/reference.html

Giant Steps: Small Changes to Make a Big Difference
by Anthony Robbins
Room 2 - Toss Your Tolerations -
http://www.simplifylife.com/stratgy2.html)

Based on his phenomenal bestseller Awaken the Giant Within, Anthony
Robbins offers readers the encouragement they need to take control
of their lives and harness the forces that shape their destiny. An
engaging collection written in an easy-to-read, easy-to-use daily
format.

First Things First Every Day: Because Where You're Headed Is More
Important Than How Fast You're Going
by Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca R. Merrill
(Room 5 - Create a Live Changing Plan -
http://www.simplifylife.com/stratgy5.html)

Managing your time by learning how to balance your life is now
presented in an easy-to-use format for daily inspiration. Combining
thoughtful insights with succinct instructions on overcoming
debilitating habits, learning to distinguish what is truly important
in life, and focusing on people and relationships versus things and
schedules.

MORE ABOUT "MAKING LIVES SIMPLER"

Linda Manassee Buell is a full-time Personal and Business Coach, and
author of the tips eBooklet, "Simplify Your Life, 101 Ways to Create
the Life You Love," the audiotape, "Simplify Your Life, 7 Simple
Strategies for Doing What You Love to Do, the revised edition of the
workbook, "Simplify Your Life: A Journey of Personal Discovery," and
her latest book, "Panic and Anxiety Disorder, 121 Tips, Real-life
Advice, Resources & More."

To order your personal copy of any of the above by check or credit
card, just go to http://simplifylife.com and click on "Shop the
Store."

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Linda's Website can be found at: http://www.simplifylife.com

The contents herein are solely the opinions of Simplify Life and Linda Manassee Buell.