During this season of giving thanks, but also a time of year that can be overwhelming and stressful, consider a passion project. While it may be too busy to start that project tomorrow, use this holiday season and extra time with family and friends to reflect and motivate: Envision a creative side project for the new year; a challenge you can embrace because either someone or something you care about will gain from it. This could be inspired by a mission, your deeper meaning, or this desire for a better way of life, big or small. This passion project could be starting a blog or writing a book, mentoring a business startup or joining a moms-connect group, launching an online store or building a bookshelf for your son. Try to visualize why it matters and why it's special to you; then begin!

Make a commitment to yourself using the following three steps:

1) Create a Passion Project Title

2) Add a Passion Project Start Date to Your Calendar

3) Outline the first 3 Tasks of Your Project

These commitment steps should get your creative juices flowing and provide guidance for a timeline and scope outline after the New Year sets in.  At the very least, maybe it will provoke an inspirational conversation at the dinner table, while you're consuming all that turkey, before you fall asleep!

Happy Thanksgiving.