Horses and . . . Black Sheep

My year of the horse is ending on a very high note. I feel very good about where I am and what I have accomplished.

This year was all about self improvement and re-focusing myself on my priorities and long term goals. And although I still have a long way to go, I have made definite progress. Culling out the things that weren’t a priority was a difficult first step – one that was full of stress, trepidation and a lot of sleepless nights. But I have made a good start and hope to continue this in the coming year(s).

Working on myself, I completed an anger management course, worked on strategies for time management and learned to take time for myself with daily reflections and meditation.

I am also in the best shape of my life. I finally achieved my brown belt and I am back on track with my Kung Fu learning having set a goal for my next step that is ambitious and yet still achievable.

Which brings me to where I am now… about to embark on a solo-year of mastery, or as I like to call it – my year of the black sheep. Due to family limitations, I am off the team for next year, but I will be watching and keeping apace as I continuing my journey solo. So just to let you know, I have high expectations that you will challenge me and inspire me!!!

When I look back at the goals I set for myself last year, I am somewhat mystified by some of them. Who exactly wrote these goals? It just goes to show you how much I have changed in the last year. Some of the goals I set seemed to loose relevance very quickly when I focused on the bigger changes I was making in my life and the direction that I was moving in. I spent a lot of time re-focusing and adjusting my goals as every time I approached one, another goal suddenly came into focus and I realised that I was not finished yet…

I have found that setting goals is very important to the journey, however, the goals are not an end but rather just personal signpost (like: quick turn left here!!!) that keep me moving forward on my ultimately journey towards mastery of my entire life.

For my year of the black sheep, I will continue to work on my personal development by studying areas of: critical conversations, building positive relationships and dealing with difficult people (myself included).

I will continue to work improving myself by learning musical instruments, mastering Tai Chi and reflecting on my successes every day.

I will interact meaningfully with my family every day and work on being a positive role model for my children.

I will continue on my study of fan and revisit the dagger by learning a double dagger form.

I will achieve my Sihing belt by the fall 2015.

And I will see you monkeys on the other side of the sheep year!

Sharida Csillag