Making and Keeping New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions – does anybody keep them anymore?

The answer is “yes” if you know how to formulate them properly.  We all know people (maybe even you) who find that their ardently planned resolutions were dropped somewhere along the wayside right beside the motivation and enthusiasm that it took to create them.  So what is the secret to making resolutions and, more importantly, how do we keep them?

1.) Make sure that there is a true desire to change. Many people make resolutions based on the expectations of other people.  If you do not have a true desire to reach your goal, you most assuredly will not.

2.) Lay out your objectives with specificity. Many people make the mistake of stating their goals in very broad terms. Two very popular New Year’s resolutions are:  I want to quit smoking or, I want to lose weight.  These statements are not specific enough. Your subconscious mind plays a big role when it comes to reaching goals in life.  Taking that fact into consideration, say you are successful at losing one pound or one ounce. Your subconscious will perceive your goal of weight loss as having been reached and will stop helping you.  After all, you did lose weight.  To use your subconscious in the most effective manner, word your resolution statements in terms of measurable outcomes.  Consider these revised resolutions:  I am reducing my smoking and will smoke half as much by Valentine’s Day, or, I am making choices that result in a twenty pound weight loss by July of this year.

3.) Make your resolutions present tense. Keep in mind when making resolutions that the subconscious part of your brain operates in the present tense. Formulating your objectives in this manner will be much more powerful.  Here are some examples of effective resolutions: I am becoming healthier each day as I choose nutritious foods to eat, or, every day I am getting closer to becoming a non-smoker.  These types of statements are more readily accepted by your subconscious mind.

4.) Write your resolutions down. Experts agree that you increase the likelihood of reaching your goals significantly by just simply writing them down.  When you write your goals down, you develop a more visible target on which to focus and concentrate.  Your goals become clear objectives.

5.) Formulate smaller sub-goals.  The reason that many New Year’s resolution and other goals go unfulfilled is because they are too daunting.  That’s why breaking your goals down into smaller, more achievable chunks is a good idea.  If your goal is to lose twenty pounds then some smaller sub-goals would include things like, substituting fruit for sweets, eating raw vegetables for snacks during the day or setting a goal to walk for 30 minutes a day.  These are small yet very do-able actions that will lead to the greater goal of losing the amount of weight you want to lose.

Looking at resolutions in a new way and with new resolve involves having the right tools to implement a plan to achieve the results you desire. Let this be the year that you keep your New Year’s resolutions. 

Original Articles. Constant-Content.

Do You Know Where You are Going in LIfe?

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Would you be surprised to find out that most people do not set goals?  Except for giving brief attention to a failure-prone New Year's resolution list, most people don't give a second thought to what they want to accomplish this year, this month, or today.

Setting Yearly Goals

Having a target for the year sets your trajectory.  It points you in some general direction.  Let's say, for example, you decide you want to write a book this year.  This is a goal.  You have set an intention for the year.  Enter monthly goals.........

Setting Monthly Goals

Now that you have your yearly goal, you will need to set smaller monthly goals in order to accomplish your large one.  In the monthly breakdown of the book writing in the above example, you would set smaller achievements up month by month.  For example, you could intend to write one or two chapters a month.  Enter weekly and daily goals.............

Weekly and Daily Goals

This is where the work gets done.  In order to accomplish the monthly goals, your large project must be broken down further into smaller pockets of work.  For example, you would set aside a certain amount of time to write every day; or, you might schedule a weekly meeting with an editor or a writing coach to keep you on track.  You get the idea.

Any job, project, or undertaking can be accomplished when you break it down into smaller units.  Remember that big dreams are achieved ultimately through very small courses of action.

Put Down That Smartphone and Look at Me!

Hearing the inventory of Steve Jobs' ground-breaking innovations, it made me think of what effect his genius has had on how we now relate to each other.

What have we gained?

We can now make magic -- we can bolt right over those old time/space barriers that made connecting with each other take time and physical effort. Now we can communicate with each other instantly, effortlessly -- no seeing/hearing/touching/talking necessary. Our words fly through space and land just where we want them to with just the tap of a finger. And while we're with one person we can even answer another's demands and reach them too -- putting the live, visible person we're with on hold.

But what have we lost?

Communication science tells us that first impressions -- the input that helps us learn and discern as we judge people -- are made up of 55 percent experiencing your body language, 38 percent your tone of voice and that only 7 percent is your words. Seven percent of total information about anyone is what cell phones give us as we contact each other! Even less since......read more

A Note From the Universe

From http://www.tut.com/ :

The secret behind miracles is that the one performing thembegins without any knowledge whatsoever of exactly how
they will succeed, yet still they begin.

When you move, I move -
The Universe

The Power of Imagination

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”

-Albert Einstein

Our imagination is the portal to creating our world.  Originating from simply thinking one thought and then another, imagination is our ticket to being, doing, and having the desires of our heart.  The key is to develop a belief in the power of thought.  After all, if thoughts are things that shape our world, then the work lies in controlling our minds and the thoughts that continually creep in and out.  This is the premise of positive thinking and positive affirmation.  Indeed, it is the basis for encouraging others in their endeavors, as well.  Psychologists have found that accentuating the positive is far more productive than emphasizing the negative.  Try this exercise in imagination:

·         See your life exactly as you would like it to be.

·         Describe how you feel when you have reached your goals.

·         Get into character by asking pertinent question like “who am I associating with?”, and “what do I look like now?”, or “how are things different?”

If you clearly see your life as you want it to be and continually view that mental film on a regular basis, you will see positive change come to your life.

The Secret of the Law of Attraction

The Law of AttractionThe law of attraction is a universal principle purporting that like attracts like. To expand this concept further, the law of attraction states that every physical circumstance starts with a thought. Thoughts attract other thoughts of similar nature that, in turn, give your subconscious mind focus and direction. This line of positive thinking causes people to notice opportunities and take advantage of situations that will cause conditions and events to manifest.

The Law of Attraction Begins with a Thought

Many people have expressed the law of attraction in axioms like, "be, do, have", or, "ask, believe, receive". These maxims serve to summarize the essence of the law of attraction. In addition, by coming up with a meaningful abbreviation, people can easily remember the steps for implementing this all-important universal principle.

To understand the law of attraction better, start by imagining that your thoughts have a magnetic quality. Positive thoughts attract good circumstances and negative thoughts, in turn, bring forth undesirable events and circumstances. The problem with the law of attraction has always been in choosing thoughts and keeping them positive, or at least keeping them headed in the right direction. If people will take a moment to stop and become aware of their thought patterns they will often find that much of their time is spent engaging in non-productive negativity. Since the law of attraction is always at work, life becomes a process of taking one step forward and one or more steps backward, resulting in little to no progress toward desired goals. It's this awareness that can revolutionize lives by empowering us to realize that as long as we are mentally sound, we are, in fact, in control of our own thoughts.

Defining What You Want in Life

Another problem with harnessing the power of the law of attraction is the fact that some people have a hard time really knowing what they want out of life. Consequently, they attempt to follow after vague aspirations instead of solid, tangible objectives. For example, if you want to manifest money, you need to be specific. Thinking, "I want a lot of money" is not a defined goal. Stating a precise amount sets tangible parameters around your objective. What about the person who says "I want to lose weight". This person's subconscious mind knows when they have lost two ounces, so to this portion of the mind, the goal has been met.

Your mind is a blank slate. Use your thoughts to write upon it only the things that you desire and you will find yourself living a life of success and happiness.

Mastering the Mind: A Perspective on Happiness and Success

Mastering the mind is a trait of successful people. They understand the workings of the mind's unlimited power. The trick is to focus on and learn to use the faculties of the conscious and subconscious. Joseph Murphy, Ph.D, in his wonderful book, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind", compared the body to a large ship in the ocean with the captain and crew being the conscious and subconscious minds respectively. The captain - conscious mind - issues orders which are followed without question by the crew - subconscious mind.......read more

Overcoming Fear

Overcoming Fear

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."
 --Albert Einstein

Fear is characterized by a feeling of uneasiness or apprehension that carries with it an intense emotional response to a threat either real or imagined. It is a painful emotion linked to the anticipation of impending doom, danger or dread.

Fear can be categorized into four distinct groups:

1) Fear of physical pain. This could be caused by an perceived aggressor but this type can also include the threat of starvation or lack of money to buy necessities to sustain you personally.

2) Fear of emotional and mental distress. An example of this would be the fear of losing a loved one either by breaking a relationship or by death.

3) Fear of physical pain suffered by others. A mother fearing injury to her child is a good example of this type of fear.

4) Fear of emotional and mental distress of others. For example, parents often feel an obligation to protect their children against others who might hurt their feelings.

The faceless demons of fear are ever present in many people’s lives, haunting their successes in the future and paralyzing them from any present efforts toward achievement. They are consistently warning themselves through negative self-talk about all that “might” happen. Does this sound like you? You are not alone. Millions of people suffer the effects of fear which often manifest as severe stress and anxiety.

How Fear is Learned

From early childhood, we develop patterns of fear in several different ways. We will discuss two of those ways here. ......read more

A Guide to Lucid Dreaming

Many people report being able to achieve lucidity in their dreams without even trying, even though for the vast majority of people, this skill must be learned with practice. The good news is that studies show that most people have the propensity to learn to have lucid dreams.

Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming is when the dreamer becomes aware that he or she is dreaming while remaining physically asleep. Lucid dreaming can be achieved at varying levels. At the lowest level, the dreamer may be aware that they are dreaming but may not be fully aware that they can control the events and characters in the dream. With higher levels of lucidity, however, dreamers become fully cognizant that the dreamscape can be altered and controlled. People who are lucid while dreaming often report purposely having exhilarating experiences, like flying, that are only to be had in dreams.

Why Develop Lucid Dreaming Skills?

As people first learn that there is such a thing as becoming lucid in dreams, they often wonder why learning to have this type of dream would be desirable. The answer for most people is that when you become aware that you are dreaming, your dreams can take on an added dimension that is only limited by the imagination. Lucid dreamers can concoct their own adventure and excitement by traveling to other planets or conversing with loved ones that have passed.

Lucid Dreams as Therapy

Also documented is the therapeutic value that lucid dreams can have.

• People who regularly suffer with bad dreams or nightmares can use lucidity in dreams as a means of confronting the scary elements of the dreams that haunt them.

• Many people use lucid dreaming to rehearse awkward or fearful situation. For example, motivational speakers use dreams to rehearse their public speaking engagements. Sports enthusiasts, also, have been known to use lucid dreaming to enhance their competitive edge.

• People in creative arts professions like artists, writers, photographers and musicians, also regularly use lucid dreams to inspire creativity. The dreamscape can provide these artists a custom studio where they are free to create in ways impossible in the real world.

Steps to Having Lucid Dreams

The three basic steps to lucidity are dream recall, questioning your conscious state, and learning to identify personal dream signs.

• The first step is to develop the ability to recall your dreams. The reason is obvious. If you cannot remember your dreams, you will not know if you have achieved lucidity. Training yourself to remember dreams is simple although it may take some time. Simply intend to remember your dreams as you fall asleep. Record whatever you remember in the morning, even if it just a feeling or a sensation. Eventually, you will retain more and more content from your dreams.

• Learn to question your conscious state while awake. Much of what constitutes dream material is the residue of habits formed in waking life. As silly as it sounds, developing the habit of asking yourself if you are dreaming while you are awake will increase the likelihood of you asking the same question while you are actually dreaming.

• As you examine your dream journal, you will notice common themes. These are called dream signs. These signs will signal the dreamer that they are dreaming and will act as signals which make it easier to reach the lucid state.

Defining lucidity involves simply realizing that you are having a dream. Lucid dreamers report wonderful experiences and most people desire to achieve lucidity. Besides adding excitement and adventure, lucidity can be a therapeutic way to stop nightmares, inspire greater levels of creativity and otherwise help people with everyday challenges.

Aging with an Attitude

I am immensely inspired by what Pearl S. Buck, the author of The Good Earth fame and Nobel prize winner, had to say on her 80th birthday. It was published in the Modern Maturity magazine but I came across it through Earl Nightingale's Motivational Moments.

Many people are conditioned to think that after 65, one should sit down, relax and watch the rest of the world with amusement and pity as it goes through the motions of detestable jobs, demanding child-rearing and dreary household chores. Buck impresses me with her task-centeredness. She writes this note sitting at her worktable facing the window and saying, "I have much work to do and I enjoy myself and what I do."

As people advance into the senior years, many must deal with the loss of their spouses, friends and relatives and, yes, look in the eyes of that scary monster loneliness. After the death of a spouse, or seeing children or grandchildren move away, loneliness sometimes.....read more

Straightforward Inspiration for the Business Minded Person

Currently, I’m reading a new book about how selling is a part of every aspect of your life. I’ve read about this concept before, but reading it again written with new insights is a really good way to spend your time. It helps to refresh what you’ve already learned, and ingrain the fundamental aspects of success in your mind.......

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The Perils of Being Too Goal Focused

If you read many books or websites about self improvement in general, and success in particular, you will notice one theme, one concept, that appears more often than nearly any other: setting goals. I even recommend it myself, from time to time.

Setting goals can help you to focus your energy and effort, making it far more likely that you will get something accomplished. That, in general, is
............read more