6 points for New Year's Resolution Success:

1. Progress not perfection: It seems that many of us wait until January to select to make a change, and then we make it an “all” or “nothing” decision. Lose weight. Stop smoking. Get in shape. Perhaps one can look at their resolution as a step in the right direction: instead of “lose weight” why not decide to reduce the calories, carbohydrates, and fats to healthy levels; and aim to shed two pounds per week. Seek progress, not perfection. Smoking is a complex situation and for some people, total cessation is necessary, for others, tapering off is better. Professional help is often useful. Now let’s look at “get in shape”. After the first week at the gym, many are so sore and exhausted they lose hope and choose to quit. Instead, a gradual increase in exercise is frequently more successful. So let’s set incremental goals and shoot for progress.

2. Little steps lead to positive change: 180^o change of course may lead to a complete reversal of a decision. If a sedimentary person wants to get in shape, how about just taking a 5 minutes walk or climbing a flight of stairs as a start. After a few days or a week, one can double their effort or extend it to an increase in time or distance. When one is changing a routine in their food, perhaps becoming aware of the size of a single portion brings about a realization of past habits that are detrimental. Any endeavor of value takes making a decision followed by learning about a successful method to accomplish the goal. Most subjects aren’t acquired overnight; but accomplished with grasping the information and concepts a little bit at a time.

3. Give your word to someone else: I don’t know what it is about giving our word, but many people will keep their word to someone else more than they will to themselves. Perhaps it’s discipline, perhaps it’s just because the decision is tough. However, a concerned friend or family member who lovingly offers support can make our resolutions stick a little better. This is not about giving our self-discipline away as much as it is having someone to encourage, reassure, and offer understanding. When enlisting another’s help, be sure to discuss one’s goal and expectations, and outline the kind of support that is best suited from our friend.

4. One mistake isn’t the end of the world: So we overslept and missed our morning walk. There will be another day and another opportunity. Let it go, but evaluate the reason. Did I go to bed at a realistic time? Am I worried about something that affected my sleep? When one gets a perspective on the dynamics around the slip, they become fewer and further apart. It’s much like the saying: Practice makes perfect. Let’s think about someone learning to play a musical instrument: how screechy is a 4 year old practicing a violin? Yet, their time and dedication has created talented artists. (Even though they missed a practice or two!) Keep your resolution as the target, forgive yourself, but don’t give up on yourself. It’s important to not derail your plans, so climb back on the wagon.

5. Count your blessings: One means of obtaining success is to focus on a gratitude list at least once a day. Not the big things, but the little things. Take a few minutes to look around and notice the multitude of blessings one has, this can shift one’s perspective in unique and wonderful ways. Let’s start by looking at our hands: what wonderful tools for most everything we do. Opposable thumbs that make so many tasks easy. The fingernails are attractive and useful. Skin, a magnificent covering that continuously protects us from attack and innately heals itself. One can be grateful for sunshine, rain, and snow. Each has its beauty and function. By shifting our focus to appreciate what is good, another shift may occur to accept what is possible: the accomplishment of our goal.

6. Every day is the perfect day to start: An inherent attribute of many is procrastination, which leads to nowhere. And a little bit of stick to it leads to success. Haven’t we all said, “Someday, I’ll . . .” Did you know that someday isn’t one of the days of the week? Or “I’ll start on Monday!” just doesn’t get it done. If an idea pops into one’s mind, then how about starting it NOW? Could something within nudge each of us in our own right direction? At the right time? And the other side of this “coin” is that little voice inside that helps us with poor decisions. Listen to this nudging when it says: “is this in your best interest?” or “will this move you closer to your goal, or further away?” So whether or not it’s January 1^st, or Monday, “Why wait, do it today!”