I’ve a friend who tells me, whenever I express doubts about getting my column in on time, that I should just recycle the old articles I’ve written. “Pull out the Greatest Hits” he says, “like the Eagles did”. It turns out that The Eagles ‘Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975’ was the best-selling album in the 20th Century.

Although I personally see it as a challenge to find something new to share each week, revisiting former topics is actually a great idea. My inspiration usually comes from what’s happening in my own life or a recurring theme reflected among my clients. Spending the week researching an issue is so useful for me and really informs the work I’m doing, both on my personal self-development, and professionally.

I find, however, that the concepts and tools that this week prove so useful and relevant for change and growth can sometimes get forgotten, squeezed from consciousness as I delve into the next week’s subject matter. I can forget my own advice.

I believe that repetition, consistency and practice are the keys to making lasting change. This is one of the reasons coaching is offered as a package of sessions and not just a one-off. We may find some relief by doing a particular exercise or even in a new awareness, but it is when we build a positive alternative into our lives that mindsets, paradigms, habits or strategies get altered. Otherwise it’s easy to slip into the old ways of thinking or acting without even realising, especially if we don’t have reminders, support and practice.

So although all the articles are available from the online archives, I thought I’d recap some of my favourite titles from this past year: a few of the subjects that most move me and give insight for my ongoing search for self-betterment.

Last February I wrote about living with Passion. It can be all too easy for the daily grind, paying the bills and doing what we ‘should’, to consume us and take priority over the things we love. But this can eventually dampen our spirit, leaving us feeling dull, switched-off, even dead inside. The article offers a list of tips for rekindling that spark and fire within each of us. Even a little bit of what we feel passionate about can go a long way to infusing our lives with vitality, joy, improved self-image and greater connection with our world.

The April article, “Winning the War on Clutter” involved a personal learning curve. As someone with self-confessed hoarding tendencies, researching tools and helpful perspectives for dealing with my ‘stuff’ has helped shift old habits and alter my mindset. Remembering that ‘clutter in our physical world mirrors our internal world’, offered great motivation to clear space for clarity and peace. Hoarding can be a result of scarcity thinking. Having written about the empowering benefits of an abundance mentality, it facilitated the letting go of what I’d been clinging to, to make way for new opportunities.

I enjoyed writing about Synchronicity as an emerging popular business model: that collaboration, even with those once considered competitors, can make us more effective. Pooling resources, ideas and best practice allows us to work to our strengths. My research highlighted many highly successful organisations and projects born from merging skills and talent and generated by making the most of connections. The Top Tips include: putting ourselves in opportunity’s way, the importance of staying aware of what others are doing, and daring to create and seize opportunities as they arise.

Synchronicity has lead me to several positive partnerships this past year and was the genesis of the upcoming Renew Retreat on January 26th. Collaborating with three fabulous well-being practitioners on the island, nutritionist, Catherine Burns, Yoga instructor, Kerri Howland and reflexologist, Hayley Bennett, we are hosting a day of clearing the old and unhelpful and welcoming in the positive new for the coming year. Providing facets of the whole, synchronicity can lead to the sum being even more powerful than the parts. (there are still some spaces available, see my website for more details.)

My June offering of ‘Happiness is not in the Park’ was part of an exciting personal paradigm shift. Having always been someone who has ‘pursued’ happiness, and knowing others who struggle trying to ‘attain’ it, ‘deserve’ it or ‘work’ toward it, it is liberating and empowering to tune into the ideas presented in Dr Robert Holden’s book, “Be Happy” (Hay House, 2009). He writes that happiness is a state of being. It is available to us all, when we choose it, wherever we are, as we are. This is one of those great concepts I require reminding of. Old habits can die hard.

The summer article on Leadership garnered interesting feedback. I love Coaching leadership, starting with dispelling the myth that leadership is something we’re either born with or not. People commonly get thrust into authority positions by being experts in their field but with little preparation or training in what good leadership involves. Being an effective leader requires distinct skills and approaches, all of which are learnable and coachable. We are all potential leaders in various areas of our lives, so learning how to work well with others, motivate and inspire the best from them, is pertinent to everyone.

In October I wrote a series called ‘Lifting the Masks’ which looked at the various personas we adopt. It revealed the dangers of losing our authenticity and sense of self when we become too dependent on playing one part and acting only as we think we ‘should’. It also touched on the subject of vulnerability (one of great personal interest) and the power of choosing to let down our guard. It describes vulnerability as the key to true interpersonal connection, and despite common perception, a demonstration of great personal strength.

There were more: dealing with disappointment, managing effective change, awareness of projection and transference … I have learned a lot this year.

Although I wouldn’t particularly call myself a fan, I somehow know the majority of lyrics to most of the Eagles’ greatest hits. This just exemplifies the power of repetition and consistency, however subconscious and background. So let us benefit from reminding ourselves of the positive ideas and inspirations we do want in our lives.

The Eagles may even prompt a few more of my weekly articles with titles like: Peaceful Easy Feeling, Take it to the Limit, Best of My Love … all good coaching themes. Witchy Woman? Well, we all have our off-days!

As we arrive at the end of this year, look back and take note of what has inspired and influenced you toward positive change and growth. Ask questions like:

• What worked well for me in 2013?

• What positive changes and life lessons have I learned?

• What didn’t work well for me in 2013?

• What unhelpful behaviours, beliefs, habits could I be willing to let go of?

• What would I like to be doing or being in 2014?

• What one small action could I take toward that now?

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and inspired new year.

Julia Pitt is a trained Success Coach and certified NLP practitioner on the team at Benedict Associates. For further information contact Julia on (441) 705-7488, www.juliapittcoaching.com.