January 2012: Make It So

Download the January 2012 Mandala of the month

Happy 2012, Everyone!

This month’s mandala feels like a call to action, which seems appropriate for the beginning of the year when we tend to make new year’s resolutions.

I find it’s one thing to make a resolution and another to follow through on them. In a recent email I received, it stated that until we actually commit to doing something, we’re basically standing at the doorway with one foot in and one foot out.

Along with lacking a full commitment, we also tend to create either ambiguous resolutions (get in shape, read more books, etc) or make them so outrageous that we set ourselves up for failure (run 20 miles a day, read 2 books a week, etc.)

I’d like to offer another option…how about we strive to find a way to do a little better today than we did yesterday. So rather than having 4 servings of carbs in one day, make it 3 servings. If we did ten reps of weight resistant exercises last week, do 12 reps this week. If we remembered to give a smile to 3 people today, then give 4 tomorrow.

If you have some big projects, break them down into smaller, more manageable ones. Instead of trying to organize the garage in one day and feeling very overwhelmed by it, do one section at a time. Before you know it, you can finally park your car in the garage! 🙂

We have 366 days this year so spread it out. Keep it simple and easy…baby steps. Come January 1, 2013 we will be way ahead of the game and in a much better place than we were today.

I heard Dr. Phil tell a guest once that January 1 rolls around every year regardless of what we do or don’t do. So would your rather be better off  or worse off when it comes around again? It’s your choice…it’s our choice.

Pick one thing a day/week/month to improve on and, as Captain Picard on Star Trek Next Generation would say, “make it so.”

Coloring Tip #1

When struggling with what colors to use, try using complementary colors or a variation of the complementary color.

1. red <-> green
2. blue <-> orange
3. yellow <-> purple

So if you have a lot of blue in your piece, add some orange.  Too much pink? add some version of green.

Please feel free to share your experience with coloring this month’s mandala. I’d love to hear about your progress and/or see an image of your coloring.

Be sure to download/color Section 1 of the 2012 Mandala of the Year.

Happy Coloring!

joyfully, Maureen
The Mandala Lady