As any year comes to a close, it’s natural to look back and review the best moments, assess significant accomplishments and plan on how to best move into the New Year.

As I look back on the high points 2009, I recall the following heart-moving, soul-soaring moments. Both of these moments remind me of just how great each of us can be and what heights can be reached when we relinquish limits and transition to standing squarely in one’s true potential.

• Barack Obama was inaugurated as the President of the United States.

  The first African American President and a breath of real hope for caring leadership.

• Susan Boyle inspired the world with her unlikely breakthrough on Britan’s Got Talent.

  Watch again for yourself and see if you don’t still get goosebumps when you witness the magic of her destiny realized.

Top Five Personal Growth Opportunities

Personally, what stands out for me are the amazing opportunities I had for personal growth. Some I planned, some were a great surprise to me. Truly, you never know what your next best life lesson is going to be. Learning to accept and receive these life lessons enables you to flow with the river of life with as much grace as possible. It is probably no coincidence that I learned the most in instances when I was teaching and guiding others to their own revelations and growth opportunities. The river indeed flows both ways. Some of these opportunities included:

1. A year’s worth of successful personal growth workshops and day retreats.

   I was thrilled to hold a space for people to tap into their remarkable intuition, challenge and rewrite their beliefs about self limits, discover their life purpose, embrace change as an empowering tool and even find their creative instincts.

2. Monthly public and private dream board seminars that allowed attendees to step away from their 24/7 mind (of worry, doubt and habit) and step into their true radiance.

   The voice of the spirit speaks loudly through visual symbols and stories.

   We each can tap into this voice and see our true power any time. I cherish each dream board vision. Inspirational vision is what directs our energy and propels us to meaningful action. You don’t have to create this vision from your mind, you merely tap into the vision that always exists arising from spirit.
   

3. Invitation to speak to military spouses at an Operation Homefront event.

   This opportunity pushed my comfort zone, so of course I had to do it. I relaxed when I called upon empathy to imagine their situation. It was affirming to see how positively the audience responded to the “What You Notice Matters!” message and tools for an empowered perspective. I realized afresh that even in the most stressful of situations, awareness can keep you in touch with what is good and with what you can manage.

4. Taking charge of my health and happiness.

   In typical entrepreneur fashion, I worked and networked too much and ignored my health too often. Finally in October I began working with a clinical nutritionist to get me back to a healing state and to rethink my lifestyle diet. That’s allowed me to end the year feeling better than I have in a couple of years. Yeah!! Consider taking your own healthy pause and rethink any area of your life that doesn’t feel in balance.

5. Traveling to the Grand Canyon.

   I realized how much I needed to release “doing” and just “be.” I actually had to stop taking photos and looking for the next shot and just breathe it in, appreciate it. Doing is a hard habit to break. I have a memo on my computer now that asks me: “Are you willing to let go of doing it all so you can have it all?” That’s a great theme for me in 2010. It’s my intention to experience easy effectiveness and joy and to teach others how they can do the same.

May each of you feel inspired by the progress you’ve made this year and be excited and curious about the new adventures, discoveries and magic awaiting you in the New Year!

Melissa Wadsworth is a potential empowerment coach, inspirational speaker and intuitive dream board expert. Check out her schedule of personal growth workshops and day retreats for 2010.