Showing posts with label resolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resolution. Show all posts
Sunday, 31 December 2017
Resolutions for a Happy New Year 2018
Four Tips That Can Save You From Making Stupid New Year Resolutions
Around the beginning of each year, people start beating up
on themselves, agonizing about things not accomplished in the past, and then
they seek a solution in some dim, poorly thought out pledge to be and/or act
differently in the upcoming year. For those of the Christian faith, it is
apparent that many have confused themselves into thinking that Lent is a year
round thing and that a New Year resolution is about denial. For others a
resolution is not a resolution unless it is grandiose and has as an added benefit
of requiring a major change in lifestyle or life direction. These are often
folks who make these decisions and pledges, after having had several glasses of
champagne. The lucky ones do not remember it the next day! To make a New Year
resolution, one needs to understand why there is any value at all in doing so.
Here are four things to consider when building sound goals for New Year
resolutions.
First, the most important thing is that a resolution must be
designed for success and not based on denial. Denial is bad in nearly all
things. If your Faith is involved here, keep repeating "this is not
Lent" as you work on your resolution!
Second, a resolution must not pledge a person to quit doing
something they truly enjoy because it has a very small margin for success. Quit
smoking, giving up chocolate (not Lent remember), most diet pledges and
resolutions that are dependent of someone else doing something, are doomed to
failure. Several years ago, a Catholic friend made a new years resolution,
which called for another friend to get married that year. This is a wish; in a
stretch, it may be considered a prayer. However, it is not a resolution
designed for success. Creating or committing to a New Years resolution that has
no margin for success, has no value. If a person does not believe the goal on
which the resolution is based is achievable, then it is stupid and again, has
no value. Save your stop smoking plan and diet strategies for lifestyle changes
that you work on with your doctor and your fitness guru, not for a New Year
resolution.
The third thing is that for a resolution to be successful,
it should bring the person true personal satisfaction. To do this, the
resolution must be something the individual actually wants, even desires to be
different in their life. Personally, two of my best resolutions in this decade
have been tremendous successes for this very reason. In, 2001 I resolved to
stop wearing neckties. I have not done so since, not even at my wedding that
year. Get some collarless dress shirts, a few nice print shirts and some silky
mock turtlenecks and one is good to go. The following year I resolved to stop
wearing a wristwatch. I do, on occasion, carry my Father's gold railroaders
pocket watch and in a pinch, my cell phone will tell me the time.
Two other examples may help illustrate the strength personal
satisfaction can play in a well thought out New Years resolution. While still
in his teens, a fellow to whom I am close was told by his Father that one could
"tell a great deal about a person by whether they kept their shoes
shined." Since this person disliked shining shoes, he thought of his
Father's words on any occasion that he noticed his own dull or scoffed shoes
while in a group of other people. One year, he pledged to frequent shoe shine
stands and get regular shoe shines. Each time he did this it made him think of
his Father, of whom he was every fond. Now that is a New Years resolution!
The second example is a man who made a resolution in 1979
not to enter a church except to observe the design or architecture unless the
occasion was a wedding or funeral for which he could not find a way to get out
of going. Only one time has he failed to keep that pledge. On Xmas Eve of 1990,
he entered Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to observe the spectacular of the
Midnight Mass celebration. Not exactly grounds for branding him a backslider!
The fourth key to avoiding stupid goal-setting in New Years
resolutions is to analysis the scope of your future disappoint if you fail to
stick to the pledge. If you make the resolution in order to bring yourself
satisfaction or even happiness, to fail to achieve the outcome will bring you
neither. Failure is likely to make a person quiet disappointed with themselves.
That is not a place we want to resolve to be shortly after beginning a New
Year. By looking inside one's self like this, we can increase our chances of
recognizing a resolution with the potential for success from one that will
bring disappointment. Do not make a resolution that your head or your heart
tell you will bring disappointment and make you feel bad about yourself.
Ask yourself questions based on these four tips to get at an
understanding of your true conviction regarding the resolution. Is this about
denial? If there is denial involved, step away from the denial. Is this a
significant lifestyle change? If so, it is not likely to become a successful
resolution. Will my success with this resolution bring bring me significant
personal satisfaction? If the answer is yes, you are most of the way there my
friend. Am I dependent on the actions of others to be successful with this
resolution? If the answer is yes, move on from this resolution to one where you
are the one in control. By answering a few questions of this kind and other I
am sure you can think of, you will greatly increase your odds of gaining the
incredible personal satisfaction of successfully living your New Year
Resolutions.
In closing, here's an observation that may be viewed as a
bit of a disclaimer. Resolutions that involve any kind of commitment to regular
exercise should not have these rules or this analysis applied to them. Exercise
is not about denial, it's about achieving the discipline and commitment to
continue. It is about feeling better because you do it. This is about your
health. Exercise that does not pound your body around but rather helps you
maintain your muscles, heart and well-being should be in the New Year's resolution
"try, try again" file. Trying and failing to achieve the commitment
and discipline for success will bring disappoint, no doubt about it. The key is
to keep at it until you find an enhancing activity like Yoga, walking, or maybe
swimming that finally allows you success and personal satisfaction. I believe
that Yoga, all by it's self can be the center of many sound goals that may
provide New Years resolution success. Regular yoga practice provides an
umbrella lifestyle for exercise, stress management, meditation, balance and
well-being. As I said before, now that's a New Year's resolution!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/914988
Friday, 22 December 2017
Declutter, Simplify and No Complain!
10 Ways to Simplify Your Day
Your life might be complicated, but you can simplify it.
There's no reason to feel proud about juggling a complicated life. Why not
simplify your life and enjoy it more? You have plenty of slack in your life
taken out if you know where to look. Get the maximum out of each day while
leaving enough time to relax.
Simplify your busy life and smile more with these
strategies:
1. Make a short list of things to do. A long to-do list is
intimidating and drains a little bit of your soul each time you glance at it.
Make a short list of things that you can complete by the end of the day. You'll
be forced to prioritize your tasks and stand an excellent chance of feeling
good about yourself at the end of the day.
2. Declutter one thing each day. It might be your desk, the
front closet, or the refrigerator. You'll be surprised how much time you save
when it comes time to formally clean an area if you keep knocking down the
clutter each day.
3. Do any errands after work, not before. As you were
driving home from work only to realize that you need gas? Do you get gas? No,
you tell yourself that you'll do it in the morning. You get up a little late,
forget that the car is nearly out of gas, and you've just created a hassle for
yourself. Your morning ritual should be the only thing you do before work.
4. Say "no" more often. Too many yesses create
chaos and stress. A simple day contains relatively few tasks and obligations.
Only agree to something if you genuinely believe that doing it is wise. Avoid
feeling bad about saying, "no." Control your time.
5. Complain less. You might have plenty to complain about,
but why not just fix those things? If you can't set them, then there's no
reason to worry about them. You'll feel better if you complain less. Try it for
a month.
6. Spend at least an hour each evening without any
electronic devices. That includes the TV. Unplug and enjoy doing something else
for a change. Play games, read a book, go for a walk, or just take a nice nap.
7. Carry a water bottle with you. Staying hydrated is
essential, and water is the best thing for you. If you have water with you,
you'll be less tempted to drink something unhealthy. Try the same idea with
healthy snacks.
8. Create a morning ritual. Include the time you get up,
what you have for breakfast and everything else you do before you walk out the
door. Having a morning ritual ensures that the important things get done and
that you're out the door on time. You don't even have to think. Just follow
your routine.
9. Consider purchasing a crockpot. You can have dinner
waiting for you when you get home. Imagine the time and stress you'll save.
You'll also only have to clean one pot.
10. Only do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is stressful
and ineffective. You'll get more done, feel better, and be less stressed if you
focus on one thing at a time.
One of the easiest ways to profoundly alter your life is to
focus on simplification. You'll be less stressed, enjoy your life more, and get
more of your essential tasks done each day. Focus on finding ways to make your
life easier without creating additional demands on your time. A simple life is
a happy life.
How do you curiously and bravely face the unknown and live a
life you always wanted? Well, you rewire your brain! Take the first step by
learning to "Train The Brain!" Just click the link: Brain Training:
Rewiring Your Mind, review the course and become a student!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9841327
Tuesday, 19 December 2017
3 Steps for Successful Resolutions
3 Steps for Successful Resolutions
Certain times of the year lend themselves to reviewing our
lives, to taking time to look at where we've been, what we've achieved so far
and where we want to go from here. Keeping life interesting and fulfilling can
mean introducing some changes, which will often require planning in order that
they be successfully implemented. Let's look at three steps for successful
resolutions.
Resolution A's
- Achievable. For goals or changes to be actionable they
need to be realistic. It's important that they stretch us enough so we keep on
trying, but not be so daunting that we give up feeling exasperated, useless or
completely deflated. Remember that a high-jumper only knows they've reached
their limit when they fail, otherwise they keep on raising the bar. Make sure
that you allow for training, coaching or support in areas where you're short of
essential skills or knowledge.
- Application is about keeping on turning up. We have to
regularly check in with our goals and maybe make a few sacrifices along the
way. But it's also important to give ourselves rewards as encouragement and an
acknowledgment of our efforts. Treat yourself to a relaxing bath or shower
after a workout or training, enjoy a cosy night watching a film after an
onerous piece of work. Reward yourself for the hard graft and determination
you've displayed.
- Allow yourself to fail from time to time without beating
yourself up. Be gentle with yourself. There's no need to be harsh if you slip
up or don't immediately reach your target. Re-focus and start again, treating
setbacks as minor events on the road to good results. We're all human and a
mini-lapse doesn't need to signal the end of your aspirations.
Resolution B's
- Begin with the right mindset, but don't wait for all
conditions to be perfect before you start. You don't need to wait for a new
day, week or year - right now is as good a time as any. Set yourself some
relevant tasks or actions every day. It may be to make a phone call, send an
email, do 10 minutes exercise, cook a healthy meal. Find affirmations or
phrases that keep you motivated and on track. You could say to yourself 'I am
doing this', 'I am worth this', two examples of ways to talk positively to
yourself and bolster your self-belief.
- Barriers to successful resolutions may typically be seen
as having too little time, financial constraints, responsibilities like work,
children, family or partners. Different factors may contrive to get in the way
of you being free to pursue your goals but try to work around them. If now's
not a good time to commit fully, why not break down your goals and identify the
individual stepping-stones that will move you nearer, taking you in the right
direction. Work on the one or two steps that you can accommodate right now.
- Blockages may well be an aspect of your own mindset, the
negative self-talk that has perhaps accumulated over the years. Identify any
stressors or situations that tend to trigger a negative response or divert you
from your path. Then you can work to resolve those issues. Therapy can
sometimes be useful when this happens, especially if it happens on a regular
basis.
Resolution C's
- Check inside yourself to ensure that your goals are right
for you, that they're yours and not someone else's. Do you really want to stop
smoking, lose weight, get fitter, take your business to the next level? Doing
things to please someone else can work for a time but is often difficult to
sustain long-term or when the going gets tough.
- Commitment is sustained by belief and the desire to
succeed. Setting mini-goals is often a great way to motivate you to maintain
the effort. Then you can recognise each step as a positive result in its own
right, leading you to the overall prize. Congratulate yourself at each
milestone reached.
- Challenge yourself when you set goals and resolutions.
It's best when your goals have a real resonance for you, when they stretch,
motivate and inspire you, even on the tough or difficult days. That way you get
to relish the sense of achievement every time you do well.
- Care for yourself well. When you're the most important
person in your life others get the best of you too. When you look after yourself
you're better equipped to support others. You're more positive, relaxed and
less stressed. Yes, people and situations may need you to be there, to love and
care for them, earn money, be supportive, but be sure to find a balance. Caring
for yourself and your needs through supporting your goals and quality of life
ensures that you're happier and healthier, emotionally, mentally and
physically.
Then all that needs to happen is for you to set yourself
some goals and resolutions. Why not start this positive process now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9827841
