‘MAKING AND KEEPING HEALTHY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS’

 

If you are the type of person who makes but never keeps New Year’s resolutions, maybe it’s time ask yourself the following questions. What is my motivation for making them? Do I feel guilty each year when I make them and don’t keep them? Do I even need to make News Years resolutions?

 

If your motivations are good ones, but you don’t keep them you’re setting yourself up for failure, so maybe it would be better just not to make them. I could play out several scenarios in answer to the above, but that would be more than anyone would be willing to read, so ask yourself the above, then read the ideas below.

 

Don’t abandon your resolutions because you have broken them in the past. Why not simply readjust the type and number of goals you are setting for yourself.

 

Be realistic. A resolution to run a marathon by the time the weather breaks is likely unrealistic if you haven’t been running and conditioning before this reading. Pick safe, attainable goals with a realistic time frame.

 

Don’t make too many resolutions. Pick one- five resolutions, prioritize them, set reasonable time frames for completion and allow for some ups and downs along the way.

 

Make sure your resolutions are based upon things you can control and change. Yes, you can take a kinder gentler approach with your spouse and children, but you cannot control their behavior or responses. This is a common resolution that fails. If you make this resolution understand that you can change your behavior and hopefully you will see a change if theirs, but the completion of your resolution should not be based on the idea that I am going to get them to behave differently towards me.

 

Try setting a resolution that is based on your own wishes, desires and dreams. So many times a resolution begins with something we see in ourselves that we dislike. It starts with giving ourselves a strict talking to that we might give our kids- scolding and gnashing. These are more doomed to failure. When you go after what’s truly in your heart the universe really does conspire to give you the things we want when you ask for them.

 

Your resolutions should contain short, medium and long-range goals. Decide where you’d like to be in three or six months, and check in on yourself. Achieving these smaller goals gives you the sense of accomplishment you need to keep the momentum for longer bigger projects.

 

Talk with your friends. Rely on your friends to support you in your resolutions, and do the same for them.

 

And lastly, if you do not succeed, don’t beat up on yourself, just reassess, make the necessary adjustments and go on. Happy New Year. Till next time, Rebecca

 

12/25/08