To begin with, New Years Eve is a time to express gratitude for all that we have and what we have experienced. Even events that appeared negative often have a positive side of it too. For example, you may have been upset when you were laid off at your job but that freed you up to find an even better one. We can be grateful where we live, and that we are alive and healthy.



We can also celebrate the spirit of the New Years holiday in a symbolic ceremony. Many people experience it as a time to let go of the old and bring in the new. I have had gatherings with friends where we wrote on a piece of paper all that we wanted to let go of. These included: loneliness, struggle, illness, stress, and addictions. We happily crumpled up the paper and threw it into the burning fireplace. When a fire was not available, we dumped the paper into a designated garbage bag or pail. We often experienced a release and felt a smile on our faces.

Then we wrote down on another piece of paper what we wanted to experience in the New Year. Often included were loving, fulfilling relationships, good health, prosperity, a slim body, and peaceful feelings. We shared these with everyone in the group as if it was already happening. For example, "I am in a loving, fulfilling relationship. I am prosperous and slim." To reinforce the affirmations, we supported everyone with their wishes by saying, "You deserve all that and more!"

Sometimes, we took it a step further and closed our eyes so that we could imagine or visualize how we wanted our lives to be. This is another great method of actualizing your desires.

Other times, people brought magazines and a poster board. We had fun looking for pictures that represented what we wanted to create it our lives. This is referred to as a treasure map and is very powerful.

For example, some men and women picked the car model, year, and color they wanted, as well as their dream home. Others cut out pictures of a person with a slim, healthy body. Fun vacation spots were popular. Sometimes words like prosperity were added. All these pictures and words were pasted onto the poster board, and they wrote their positive thoughts or affirmations under them.

I found this to be extremely powerful to attract things to me, so be sure that you include exactly what you want. For example, if you love a blue car, put that picture up and not a yellow one.

Of course, it is imperative to forgive yourself for anything you felt you did wrong. Guilt feelings cause us to punish ourselves. One way we do that is by not allowing ourselves to have what we desire.

Finally, it is important to forgive others. Anger hurts everyone involved. It is human to make mistakes. We all act out of fear at times instead of love. Have compassion for peoples' pain and forgive them. This is the time to complete whatever needs to be dealt with so that you can begin with a new slate and bring in more love and peace. Then you can enjoy the spirit of the New Years holiday.

On January 1st you can declare, "Today is the first day of the rest of my life! I am choosing love and peace!" That is the key to health, happiness, success, and world peace.