New Years is like the spring rebirth of failed attempts, unfulfilled promises and the resurrection of last years’ goals that never quite rendered much success. It’s no wonder why only 8 percent of resolvers actually achieve their resolutions according to a study by the University of Scranton. So, this year forget about this American ritual and start your year off with a purpose and a theme. Now, someone may be wondering, how is this different from making a resolution? A resolution is just promises one makes to start or stop doing something whether good or bad. But how many people know that promises not kept are just little sprinkles of lies planted throughout the year. We tend to be more faithful to the tradition rather than the resolution itself. Instead, beginning the year with a purpose gives you a reason to why you want to do something with an intended end result. Of course, losing weight is a wonderful idea, but you won’t be successful at it without making it a meaningful experience. Discovering the why is just as important as figuring out the how. Once you have pin-pointed your reasons for doing something, decide how it can be incorporated into a theme for the next 365 days. Creating a theme will bring a new perspective on how you view New Years’ resolutions and could help you stick to a plan that may actually work. Consider again the idea of losing weight. Perhaps the theme for the year could be focused on practicing good health. | Weight-loss could be just one component to the theme of good health, along with exercising, eating better, or getting regular check-ups. Essentially, you’d continue to do things throughout the year that will make you healthier. In the end, doing all of these things will add up to a healthier version of you. If you are thinking about theme-setting for 2014, here are a couple of ideas that can jump-start your creativity beginning January 1st. Begin your 2014 theme with… Exuberant Happiness The year 2013 had its shares of ups and downs but this time around spend the New Year doing whatever makes you happy. Don’t focus on life’s problems of yesteryear. In some ways these difficulties are unavoidable. However, concentrate on how you can bring bliss into your life and in what ways it can benefit you the most. Ask yourself, “Does this make me happy or does this bring me the greatest satisfaction?” and if the answer is yes, go for it! Craving Adventure Perhaps last year had you stuck in a rut and your daily routines left you wanting a little more zing with your zang. Starting the year with the theme of adventure might be just what you need to take you out of your comfort zone like sky-diving or a canopy zip-line tour along the Catawba River. Do things that cater to your sense of adventure and exploration and you are sure to end up enjoying a year full of amazing thrills and new experiences. | Giving More The old adage goes it is better to give than to receive. Giving of yourself makes a world of a difference and warms the hearts of those you show kindness towards. It’s not always the materialistic things that most people remember, but how you pour into an individual’s life that makes the experience of human interaction worthwhile. So this year give more of your time, charitable deeds, patience, optimism, inspiration, smiles, laughter, hugs, compliments . . . whatever it may be and you’ll find yourself affecting the lives of others in the most meaningful way all year long. Making it Happen Let 2014 be the year to conjure up the muse of imagination and dream bigger than ever before. Is there an idea giving you restless nights or an unfinished project starving for attention? Don’t let another moment pursuing your passions pass by. Take action and do it. Create, connect and network with the right people to get your dreams off the ground. By staying focused, you’d be surprised how much you can achieve if you believe you have what it takes to make it happen. No matter what January will bring, resolutions are made to be broken. As an alternative, creating a theme will let you focus on a purpose and allow you to find ways to integrate anything that you do to produce the intended result. It's not about making it into a goal, but it is more about allowing your daily activities to be incorporated in your life. Have a Happy New Year and begin it with a theme for 2014! |