goal sisters

The Latest News, Views, and Gurus
Vol. 2, No. 1

Happy New Year, Readers!

We, Ann Leach and Michelle Beaulieu Pillen, co-authors of Goal Sisters: Live the Life You Want With A Little Help From Your Friends,are coming to you from our book’s online home at www.goalsisters.com! As we enter 2005, we’re feeling energized and eager to continue setting and accomplishing our goals! How about you? Are you ready to have a great New Year? We support you in finding and maintaining a balanced life as you move forward to plant the seeds in your 2005 goal garden!

* * ACTIVITY: FEEL YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, ACHIEVE YOUR FEELINGS * *

Here’s a new twist on the goal setting process: decide today how you want to feel at the end of 2005. “Sounds interesting,” you think. “I wonder what they mean?”

Consider this example: Ann decides by the end of 2005 that she wants to have felt peaceful and calm most of the time. Now that she has determined that ‘peace and calm’ are her target feelings, Ann next determines what actions/tasks she can do today to help her feel that way today, tomorrow, and every day.

Those actions might show up as images of relaxation on Ann’s Treasure Collage or in her planner as ‘meditate daily’ or ‘be out in nature 20 minutes every day.’ Ann might commit to ‘journal regularly’ and ‘have one hour of quiet time every day.’ These actions are now part of Ann’s daily routine. Doing them every day helps her to take the small steps to her end of the year goal of feeling peaceful and calm.

Now it’s your turn.

1. Schedule a meeting with your Goal Sister and discuss and determine some key feelings for yourselves in 2005.

2. Each Sister gets 5 minutes to brainstorm with the other one on ways to achieve those feelings throughout the year. Your job is to record each idea in your journal.

3. Review your list and evaluate each idea according to your interest and willingness to commit to it. Share your decisions with your Goal Sister.

4. Take the actions that fit for you and schedule time for them in your planner.

5. Complete your meeting by finding pictures and words in magazines that depict the goal feelings you’ve set. Agree to meet again in one month to share your Treasure Collage and to update each other on your progress!

* * ANN’S STORY * *

It’s here: the much-anticipated 2005! I am affirming that this is the year all war will cease and peace will be the focus and intention of each person on the planet.

Before I move into a New Year I always release the negative aspects of the old year. For me, this takes the form of participating in my Unity church’s Burning Bowl ceremony. We record the negative thoughts, people, and experiences from the past year and literally burn that paper in a concrete urn. This symbolizes the letting go of the past and the power that those issues and concerns had in holding us back from our good. We complete the ceremony by writing a letter to God stating our desires for the New Year. Pretty powerful stuff!

I also like to review the previous year and note 5 to10 people who were important influences on my personal and professional development. Then I call them on the phone or jot them a note of thanks. We all like to know that we’re appreciated - this is my way of honoring all those terrific folks who have supported me throughout the year.

* * ATTENTION GRABBING GURUS * *

This month’s guru, Ron Kowalke, is a prolific artist and professor of Art at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa. Over the last 30 years, Ron has created an amazing portfolio of drawings, paintings, and sculptures. During that same period, Ron has struggled daily with his depression. So much so, that at times he could not tame the “dragon within.” Ron worked through his depression by seeking medical advice and therapy, and incorporating the experiences and works of other creative people into his healing. He recently went public with his story (www.hawaiihealthguide.com/healthtalk/display.htm?id=121). Inspired by the audience’s response, Ron is continuing on his quest to tell others about his healing journey. Thanks Ron, for encouraging us all to continue on the path of creative expression, consciousness, and service.

* * IT’S TUESDAY AND IT’S FREE!! * *

Ann and sister life coach, Suzanne Falter-Barns, author of Living Your Joy, are hosting a special teleclass tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 7:00 p.m. Central, and 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Join them for this hour-long discussion on how to:

Become More Creatively Alive in 2005! You've got the dream, now is the time to move into action and make it a reality! How? Ann and Suzanne will share powerful steps for clarifying your creative dream and designing a realistic action plan to make it happen. Full of tips, resources and extra doses of support, this class will move you into 2005 feeling focused, energized and ready for a creative and happy New Year!

To attend, simply dial (641) 497-7100 and enter the access code 397969#. Don’t forget to enter the “#” key at the end of the code. Looking forward to a fun and productive call!

* * GOAL SISTERS HAPPENINGS * *

As the New Year begins, interest in GS groups is sprouting up all over and current GS groups continue to thrive! Here’s an update on the GS groups we know about:

GS Indianapolis. Sister seeking GS group to join or start with other women. Contact Michelle at michelle@goalsisters.com.

GS Joplin. Ann continues to hold monthly meetings with 3 GS groups. This past weekend, members of the first GS Joplin group joined Ann at her Kansas City, MO book signing and stayed overnight for their annual New Year’s adventure. On January 14th, Ann kicks off another 8-week GS group through the Chamber of Commerce. Joplin Sisters interested in joining should check out the Web site at www.goalsisters.com/bio.htm or call the Chamber at (417) 624-4150.

GS King of Prussia. Sister seeking GS group to join or start with other women. Contact Michelle at michelle@goalsisters.com.

GS Oahu. While there aren’t any GS Oahu groups yet, Michelle meets individually with 2 women – Lani and Lisa. One of Lani’s 2005 goals is to hold a Goals Night Out event, which introduces other women to the GS process over food and fun! Stay tuned, Oahu Sisters, for the dates and times of that future event.

If one of your New Year’s goals is to start your own Goal Sister group, we can help! Ann has created a 30-page manual for group facilitators that you can purchase for $10 through our secure PayPal account at www.goalsisters.com/works.htm. Once your payment is processed, we will email you the downloadable manual in pdf format.


That’s all for now! As always, we love to hear from you regarding your progress, your stumbling blocks, and your successes. Drop us a line via our Web site, and check back frequently for updates and sharing. Here’s to keeping your dreams and resolutions alive – and on the front burner - in 2005!

Onward and upward,
Ann and Michelle


P.S. Please forward this newsletter to all the women you know who are ready to amp up the fun and focus in their friendships while transforming themselves and their lives! Thanks!!


Copyright © 2005 by Ann Leach and Michelle Beaulieu Pillen, Ph.D. All rights reserved. No part of this Web site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.
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