It’s the time of year for reflection and yet I’m noticing an interesting pattern with clients: the natural tendency to reflect and a pushing past it to figure out what’s next for 2011.

This push is overriding an important part of life, personal growth and preparation for the new year. I know it doesn’t sound very strategic to stop and reflect, acknowledge progress and accomplishments, give thanks, celebrate. And it is.

As I described in the July newsletter, celebration (thanksgiving, acknowledgment) is an important part of transformation for you, your life and your business. It integrates new growth so that it becomes a natural way of thinking, of being, of living. Celebration, recognition and gratitude also stop the push of the parasympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and kick on the sympathetic nervous system. This is the healthiest place to be on a day-to-day basis – as it is this relaxation response that restores, renews and reenergizes our body, mind, soul and spirit.

Many of you give thanks daily as you converse with others, pray or lay your head down for the night. I will challenge you to go further and carve out sacred space on a regular basis – and especially this time of year – for reflection:

What are your gifts and strengths?
What progress do you notice in you, your life, your business?
What are your accomplishments this year?
For what are you proud of about yourself?
For what are you grateful?
What miracles have you experienced this year?
In what ways will you celebrate? mark the milestones?

Stop now and do this. Invest….you’ll notice ROI in thinking, health, focus, creativity, relationships, effectiveness and ease.

You’ll also notice a natural carryover into your 2011 planning. Ask yourself the same questions as if it were December of next year. When I did this, the most powerful question that shifted my thinking and tweaked my forecasting and planning is the gratitude question: for what do I want to be grateful for in December 2011? My commitment and motivation are very different and already opportunities are popping up that I didn’t expect or couldn’t see before. My response to them has been easy and natural. It’s as if I’m being pulled forward verses pushing.

When you continue your daily gratitude practice and invest in reflection that leads to acknowledgment and celebration you are creating and strengthening new neuropathways in your brain – ones that support your growth, progress and success.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent or praiseworthy – stop – and think on these things.