2007 is your opportunity to begin again. You begin again by going back to zero. At zero there are no scores to settle. You have a blank slate. This doesn't mean that others will give you a blank slate, because that could be impossible. The idea is that you will give yourself a blank slate. You will truly allow yourself to begin anew.

Zero means no judgment. This means that you stop criticizing and condemning yourself for what you have or have not done. It means that you let go of all critical thoughts of others. Judgment creates pain. Give up your job as manager of the universe and begin to see others with compassion. Think about it this way. You can spend your day looking for reasons to judge and criticize, or you can spend your day looking for reasons to love and appreciate others, yourself, your work, and your life. Which day will feel better to you? Which day will cause you the most suffering? Refuse to entertain negative thoughts about others and your life will significantly change for the better.

Zero means no needs. Know that all your needs are met from within you. This is a spiritual take on the world. If your Source is within you, then you don't need the approval or the attention of others in order to be well. You don't need the permission of others to be who you are. This means that you trust that your needs will be met. Much of our stress comes from the need to control the way others see us. Rather than being a slave to the opinions and decisions of others, find your sustenance in the Spirit within (and around) you. The needier you are toward others, the less they want to meet your needs.

Zero means no fear. It is not that you will never feel fear. It means that you will not allow it to control you. If your needs are met, and if you feel genuine compassion for self and others, then you can afford to offer love without conditions. Offer your appreciation to self and others generously. When you see people with love rather than fear, you influence them to rise up and meet your positive view. Love is unconditional positive regard for others, for self, and for life. The genuine appreciation you offer to life always comes back to you.

Zero means no past. Bring yourself into the present moment. Certainly you experienced a past, but this 2007. What will you do now? Who is the person you will be now? What successes will you create? The past doesn't matter when you go back to zero. Of course, others around you may still be stuck in the past. You need not join them. Help them by your example. Ask yourself the question: "What do I want?" Answer this question honestly and move toward your goal. When you find yourself engaging in regret or resentment, ask yourself: "Will this thinking bring me closer to my goals?" Will it bring me joy or peace? Shift your thinking to align with your goals.

Zero means no blame. You are 100 % responsible for your life. Take charge of it. You decide what you think. If you are overwhelmed by negative emotion, get help. Learn how to release negative emotion. Repetitive blaming and negative emotion are addictive. Become emotionally aware and refuse to immerse yourself in the drama that is going on in your mind. Breathe and let it go. Take the situation in which you are blaming and turn it over to your Higher Power. Insist that it is no longer yours to manage. For example, if your relative or your colleague has given you fits, turn them over to your Higher Power. Turn over your judgments and needs, also. Since the situation is no longer yours to control or worry about, you can relax.

How I get back to Zero!

Each night when I get in bed, I take an inventory of the day. I note my judgments, needs, fears, attachments to the past, and blaming. I decide to release them all. I look to my Spirit (Higher Power, God, Higher Self, etc.) and ask to be forgiven for these thoughts of mine. I ask to be cleansed and I am thankful to be free of all that stuff. I give my judgments as a gift to my Higher Power, and allow myself to be guided by Spirit. Together we cocreate a way of being that is joyful to me and transformational and inspirational to others.

When I awake in the morning, I affirm that I am at zero, and I envision my new day--the joy, the success, my purpose, and how I will be of service to all with whom I have contact. Throughout the day I do my best to stay aware, to clean up my thoughts, and to focus my attention on my purpose. Plug this into your spirituality or philosophy and run with it.

You are invited to go back to zero in 2007. As in tennis, zero is love. It is pure appreciation of yourself, others, and life. Zero is a highly creative state where you are free to design and live the life you desire. You are free to serve others with your gifts and talents. By following the steps given here, you will dissolve the barriers to your success. There are no barriers "out there". Choose at least one of these ideas and act on it. Let go of judgment, or release the past. Refuse to blame or to allow fear to control you. Give up the need to control what others think of you. Pick one and begin. Hit the zero point in any of these areas and you will experience greater freedom and peace of mind. At zero you are a blessing to the world. 2007 is your year!