YOU may have heard that the winter solstice on 21st December 2012 coincides with the completion of the 5,125-year "Great Cycle" of the Ancient Maya "Long Count" Calendar.
Many believe this signifies the end of the world.
People called "doomsday preppers" (mostly American I believe!) are stock piling tins of baked beans in preparation for an alien invasion or some other cosmic apocalypse. Although quite what they intend to do with said tinned foods if the world really is about to end, I don't know?
According to the conspiracy theorists most of us have been kept blissfully unaware of the "truth" and so are preoccupied with preparing for a Christmas which will apparently never materialise.
A multitude of wacky websites either whipping up what has become known as "doomsday phobia", or attempting to reassure people, have appeared.
Even NASA has made a statement.
In common with much of the stuff on the internet, the scare stories about 21/12/12 are presented as if they are fact, when in reality they are merely conjecture.
FEAR in this case maybe > False Evidence Appearing Real.
What is interesting about all this end of the world hullabaloo is what it illustrates about our attitudes towards events that are beyond our personal control.
Many people spend too much time worrying about things they have absolutely no way of controlling.
The result can often lead to a feeling of hopelessness and means they actually neglect doing anything to improve stuff that is within their power to change.
Rather than an apocalyptic, disaster movie-type scenario, the end of this cycle will naturally be followed by the start of a new one.
All endings have within them the seed of a new beginning. Some people herald this time as a fantastic new beginning, a period of spiritual awakening where more of us will become attuned to deeper more meaningful aspects of existence. Now surely that could only be a good thing.
As 2012 comes to a close and 2013 begins.... (So no, personally I don't think the world is about to end)... it's a great time to take stock and consider what you have achieved so far; where you are right now in life and where you want to be in the future?
If you start with where you are and with what you have, rather than focussing on what you lack or can't control, then you can harness your personal power to improve your life. This leads to happier, healthier experiences where you achieve more fulfilment.
We are encouraged to set goals, make New Year resolutions and decide on our desired outcomes.
But for some knowing what we actually want can be a real struggle. If this resonates with you, it's maybe because you are unsure of who you really are? The sometimes frantic pace of 21st century life, where we are constantly bombarded 24 / 7 means we've lost touch with our natural intuition or gut instincts.
We seek solutions from the outside world to solve problems that have their origin on the inside of us. The most common areas for concern for most people fall into three broad categories: Love & Relationships, Health & Wellbeing, Work & Finances.
Crucial to achieving happiness and success in these areas and beyond is a real knowledge of who you are and a healthy focus on what is within your control.
If you are interested in discovering more about how to make the most of life, if you would like to meet like minded people who are on a similar journey, and you would like to get a head start creating the future you want, then please just e-mail "21.12.12" to denise@hummingbirdeffect.com
Something very special is starting here in Essex in the New Year and you could be among the first to benefit from it.