Ok, so more often than not, this time of year we make New Year’s resolutions that sound good on December 31^st, but don’t make it past mid-day on January 1st. Because most of these resolutions are based on superficial desires, they’re doomed to fail. But when we really take time to go deep and listen to the still, small voice of the Heart, it’s possible to transcend superficial aims and move deep into something more meaningful. From this deep, heartfelt space, it’s possible to cut through the things we feel we should do and listen to what we really need to do to feed our souls, keep our minds sound and our bodies healthy.

This year, 2012, more than any before it, will bring a good number of changes. Time seems to be speeding up and the pace of change is accelerating. Many of the things that we thought we were will fall away. Jobs and roles shift. Mates and possessions may disappear in an instant. Institutions that we counted on may no longer be there for support. These are changes to welcome and embrace as they are eliminating old patterns and making way for new ones, and allowing for more vibrant and creative expressions and a higher consciousness to manifest.

In times of great change, it’s essential to go deep and discover your core, your Self. This is the essential part of you that will remain ever constant and unchanging at all times. I like to think of it as the Witness. It reminds you that even through periods of great change, you will be fine. And the more you tap into your inner resources through the process of Self-inquiry, the better you will do this. Most of us have vast, untapped resources of energy, vitality, strength, confidence, compassion and understanding that we can draw on when we move into this deep, heartfelt space.

For 2012, self-examination is a key to moving into a place where you can transform and become the person you truly are beyond societal expectations and superficiality. It’s a time to reveal your unique qualities and gifts and explore your inner resources and begin to share them with your community, friends and family. If you don’t have a community or those around who support you in this, then it’s time to open up to finding new friends and people who will support you in your endeavors.

To set aims and goals and gain some direction, I like to make it a regular habit to sit down in silent meditation and listen. I tune into how I feel, what’s racing through my head and what’s going on at the soul level. If there seems to be too much chatter, training the mind to focus through chanting a mantra, focusing on a candle or a beautiful flower or image, can create a point of concentration which will leave the higher mind open to receive intuitive insights. Making this quiet time, for me, is an essential moment of each day where I receive insights about my work, my creative projects, my relationships and the world. In this way I can check in about where I’m at with my aims, listen to what the next step may be and consider changing my plans.

Another good tool for staying anchored in the kind of life you want to create for 2012 is to identify two or three key values, define them and examine how you can put them into action. Some of my key values are to work with love, live in integrity and be true to my Self. I define these as bringing that clear energy of love into my writing and engagements, working to be unified on the levels of mind, body and spirit, and to listen deeply and move with my heart’s nudging and yearnings. When I pay attention and respect my values, my decisions remain clear and strong. Even in the times that I “fail” in life, I can chalk up the experiences as necessary to learn new things and broaden my awareness.

We can choose to view the changes in the coming year as dreadful and live in fear, or we can decide to embrace them and be filled with excitement, a sense of adventure and joy. I know which one I’m going for. Bring on the joy!

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary, dreamer and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.