How to Make Your Yearly Resolutions Stick this New Year

The New Year is almost here ~ time for New Year's Resolutions....again! But how do I make sure that this time I will actually keep them? I need a plan. And a few good quotes for inspiration. Loved this one:

One of the best New Year's motivators is the quote by Chinese philosopher, Lao tzu, who wisely said in The Way of Lao‐tzu, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) offers the following tips to help families and individuals keep their resolutions for a healthy mind and healthy life:

* Don't make too many resolutions. 

* Pick a realistic, attainable goal with a reasonable time frame. 

* Choose your own resolution. Make sure your goal is something that you want to accomplish for yourself and not just for friends or family. 

* Make a plan and write it down. Writing your goals down is a good way to keep track of your progress. 

* Involve friends and family. They can motivate you to keep going. 

* If you get off track, forgive yourself. Review your plan and make adjustments. 

* Reward yourself when your intermediate goals or resolutions are met.

There is an inspirational essay called “Just for Today” that I have seen on many websites. I loved it.  The author was Frank Crane who wrote a newspaper column called “DR CRANE SAYS”. The piece contained a set of ten daily suggestions and was titled “Just for Today” [BGFC]:

Here are ten resolutions to make when you awake in the morning.

They are Just for One Day. Think of them not as a life task but as a day’s work.

These things will give you pleasure. Yet they require will power. You don’t need resolutions to do what is easy.

1. Just for Today, I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life-problem at once. I can do some things for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

2. Just for Today, I will be Happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness is from Within; it is not a matter of Externals.

3. Just for Today, I will Adjust myself to what Is, and not try to Adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come, and fit myself to them.

4. Just for Today, I will take care of my Body. I will exercise it, care for it, and nourish it, and not abuse it nor neglect it; so that it will be a perfect machine for my will.

5. Just for Today, I will try to strengthen my mind, I will study. I will learn something useful, I will not be a mental loafer all day. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

6. Just for Today, I will exercise my Soul. In three ways, to wit:

(a) I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count.

(b) I will do at least two things I don’t want to do, as William James suggests just for exercise.

(c) I will not show any one that my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but Today I will not show it.

7. Just for Today, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible,  talk low,  act courteously, be liberal with flattery, criticize not one bit  nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate nor improve anybody.

8. Just for Today, I will have a Programme. I will write down just what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I’ll have it. It will save me from the two pests Hurry and Indecision.

9. Just for Today, I will have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, some time, I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective to my life.

10. Just for Today, I will be Unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to be Happy, to enjoy what is Beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love love me.

(Copyright, 1921 by Frank Crane)

“Let me give you a New Year message: Believe in yourself, because no one ever achieved anything significant without believing in himself and no one ever will! Believe in yourself powerfully, especially when there is no reason left to believe in yourself because the ultimate bottom is the best place to start a big rise!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

May you find endless enthusiasm to achieve your dreams in the coming year.

HAPPY 2016!!! :))))))