There are so many rituals for starting the New Year off right!  For me, there are two:
-Making a big pot of black-eyed peas (superstitious ritual for good luck)
-Creating my Dream Board for the upcoming year (proven tactic for creating my serendipity)

What is a Dream Board?
A Dream Board is the place where you will draw the things that you want to happen in the coming year.  This is a really personal exercise and should capture the goals that are most important to you.  For example, in 2015, I wanted to spend more time on Jane Knows (I did), teach a class at the CU business school (I did), create a scholarship fund at the University of Colorado (I did), spend time with my mom (I did), and exercise more (I did not, but I thought about it a lot).

Know that you don’t have to be an artist to create your Dream Board.  As you can see from my little drawing that accompanies this blog, I used a black pen and a box of colored pencils on my 2016 desk calendar. Although this is not my official Dream Board, this is my starting point.  I am asking the question that for me will be the umbrella for all of my 2016 dreams: “what will I do with the gifts that I have been given?”  For where I am at in my life, it is my dream to give back as much as I can, so my Dream Board will have drawings of the ways in which I plan to spend my time.

Now, why does a Dream Board work? 
It is simple.  First, drawing a picture of your dreams makes it more tangible.  It is alive and in front of you.  Which is the second part of why it works.  You will take this Dream Board and post it someplace where you can see it every day.  I keep mine next to my desk in my home office. It is not tucked away in a journal entry or just another “to do” item in your mind.  It lives in the color drawing that you created.

Try it for 2016!  On New Year’s Day, make up a pot of black-eyed peas, pull out your crayons, and start making your dreams happen!

Happy New Year! 

-Jane