Solutions For Resolutions

Do you have New Year's resolutions?

I do.

I try not too make to many, but this year I have a few habits I want to banish.

Good Habits: HELLO! Bad Habits: BU-BYE!

I would love to "fix" all the things about me that I am not happy with. Of course, we all do, don't we?

But making a sweeping list of the hundred-and-one items that we know we need to change is a recipe for failure.

These are not mine.

Some people know about my resolutions. Some do not.

And I am not here to wax poetic about mine and give you my list. Some are very personal resolutions. Some are goals. Some have to do with health. Some have to do with vanity. Some both.

A resolution for a couple of my boys perhaps?

Some have to do with personal things. Some professional.

The key, I think, is to focus in on a few things that are really important to you. Not to other people. Not to your kids. Not to your spouse. Not to your Mom. Not to your friends.

Focus on you.

Key word here: YOU!

Meditate on that thought for a moment. I'll wait.

(You're still meditating? Sorry...carry on....)

Done? OK then. Let's continue.

Now, the resolutions you are thinking about...are they realistic? Are they measurable? Pick some key targets.

It is one thing to say, for example, "I am going to lose weight in 2012."

I hear ya dude!

It is quite another to say, "I am going to work out 3 times per week, for 30 minutes and lose 20 pounds by April 1."

Resolutions are meant to help you, not demotivate. They indicate a fresh start of sorts - but if you slip along the way, it does not mean you have screwed up your plan. It is simply a small tumble. We all fall.

Your strength does not lie in being perfect.

Being perfect. It's NOT a good thing. Nor is it realistic peeps!

Your strength lies in how well you brush yourself off and get back up.

Lord knows, I get this.

Instead of saying "I am going to try to become a writer!", try something like "I am going to get one article published by June" or "I am going to start a blog by the end of January."

You can decide on any specifics. You can be published without getting paid. I have been published all over the place both paid and unpaid - but they both give me exposure and experience as a writer. I learn from everything I do. That is important to ME. Again...ME.

Let's try another example.

Perhaps your marriage is needing a little help. Maybe you want to make things better. Instead of saying "I'm going to make my marriage better this year", try something like "I am going to plan a date night once a month" or "I am going to make an appointment with a marriage councillor by the end of January."

Of course, these are all just examples. It all depends on YOU. YOUR situation. YOUR wants. YOUR needs. Get it?

So go ahead. Make those resolutions. But keep it real peeps. Don't beat yourself up.

And make it about YOU.

Yup. YOU.

Wishing you success and many blessings for 2012!

Happy New Year readers!

Smiles,

Lora