It’s the time of year when we traditionally look ahead at the coming year, and make our plans. All too often, our plans fail – either because we fail to plan well, because we are too ambitious, or because we are too rigid, and forget to let things emerge.
In this article we share a positive-psychology and nature-based tool for planning the year ahead.
No planning is a recipe for disaster!
Change – like coaching – can be focused and goal-directed. Some people love that! For others – like me – we can resist overly structured plans, and prefer to let things emerge, to follow our energy, and be ready to seize the moments. In truth, a blend of both is probably useful. And doing no planning is almost certainly a recipe for disaster!
Planning with the seasons
As a nature-based organisation, we think of our annual planning in terms of the seasons. Like nature, there will be times of scarcity, and rest – as well as energy and abundance. Planning in this way can help us be in tune with our environment, and by noticing nature as part of our approach to the year can bring us closer. Not just for our own good, but as a means to spark action for the environment and our communities. To give, as well as to receive.
How to approach your plan
You will find our own best way to do this. Our suggestion is to think of planning as an exercise in ‘savouring’. Psychologists Bryant & Verhof’s (2007) ‘Savouring’ model, which invites us to look at the past, present and future with positivity, and through three lenses:
- Savouring the moment.
- Savouring through anticipation
- Savouring through reminiscing
Download your planner
You can download an A4 PDF of the planner here. The first page is the planner itself, with space for some headline goals or dreams for each season, and each month; a place to write a daily practice of some kind; and some key messages from your savouring exercise.
The second page offers definitions and quotes for each season, prompts on savouring, and some suggested practices based on the book ‘Being in Nature’.
I wish you happy savouring, and a peaceful and joyful winter ahead.