What Will You Do THIS Year ?

I recently read a blog post from my favorite Leadership blogger (linked HERE) wherein he wrote briefly about how we approach each new year.  Of course I love that he suggests using questions to improve ourselves (you know how I love questions!), but it also reminded me that it only takes the proper mental attitude to begin anew.
I've gone back and forth many times on my commitment to blogging (among many other arguably more worthwhile activities).  But reviewing this post (and reflecting on the questions Dan suggests) reminds me that our efforts do not always have to produce excellent or even noticeable results.
The key is to keep trying - keep pushing ourselves to improve - keep the strategies that work and replace those that don't.

In the end we'll have plenty to feel good about and we'll likely remember very few of the stumbles or low points.

Cheers to your new year's goals, whatever they may be!

Song Of The Day:
As you make your plans and goals for 2015, I would like to help you project ahead to the end of the year and visualize yourself singing along to the words in OneRepublic's song "I Lived"  The tune is certainly catchy, the message is meaningful (if not overstated), but it seems a fitting anthem for setting goals to challenge yourself in the coming year.  Filled with repeated statements of hope as a theme, I LOVE this song!

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Do We Recognize Our Progress ?

This past Sunday at church, our lesson in Sunday School was centered around Resolutions, which makes lots of sense timing-wise because everyone thinks about goals and resolutions at the start of each new year (even if the pretend they don't).

We were all given pieces of paper and I was struck by something our instructor said.  He challenged us to reflect on the accomplishments or progress we made toward our goals this past year.  Initially  played along and just tried to think of goals I had accomplished ... but soon I began writing them down on my piece of paper because there were too many to just think about them.  I wanted to write them all down and really spend some time pondering on my personal progress.

I think we may all be guilty of looking back at the previous year and spending LOTS of time thinking about what we didn't get accomplished.  But we probably rarely (if ever) really stop to celebrate our things we DID get done or progress we did make.

I'd like to challenge anyone who reads this to take 30 minutes (and don't skimp on this please!) to reflect on this prior year.  Write down your list of things you accomplished, even if some of them are not completed or if the were not goals you had at the start of last year.  Ignore that voice in your head that will try to remind you of what you failed to complete, and WRITE DOWN everything you DID get done.

I will promise you two things if you do this:
first, you will be surprised at your list;
and second, it will be much easier to set and keep goals for this year if you start from a positive and successful place.


Song Of The Day:
There was a time when I was almost anti Christian-rock music.  I just felt like the heavy beats and loud sound couldn't really bring in the spirit that I am usually seeking with songs about my Savior or my faith.  I'm not sure when it happened, but my perspective on that has changed and I lately I have found myself listening to one of two local Christian radio stations.  I heard the song "Love Take Me Over" by Steven Curtis Chapman a few weeks ago and I think it is a great New Year song.  I'd like to be filled with more love in 2014.  If we truly loved one another as brothers and sisters with the same heavenly parentage, this world would be so much better!

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Can We Really Make It The Whole Year?

Tis the season to make resolutions.  Out with the old and in with the new.  Bad habits be gone.  New promises to "eat healthier" and "exercise more" or "stop smoking" or "stop losing your temper" or "reading more good books" or "watching less tv" ... or perhaps even blogging daily.  :)

The start of the new year is always full of so much promise.  Everyone believes they can begin anew and really make the resolutions stick this time!  I think this is a good thing.  I believe in our power to change.  I also believe that 99.9% of us want to change for the better and improve ourselves each day.

But I also understand how easy it is to fall back into prior patterns of behavior.  Our vices can sneak up on us and all of a sudden we're in the rut we've dug for ourselves over years of similar actions.

I'd like to offer a few thoughts on how to make this year different:
 - First, don't think of the long-term change.  Just "win the day." Looking too far ahead can cause you to lose steam and give up.
 - Second, talk to others about your goals.  There is real power in peer pressure / support.  Why do you think people have so much better success when they have a personal trainer or mentor or life coach?  Sometimes you need an "objective other" person to reignite your passion to change.
 - Third, celebrate your success.  A recent article I read talked about how our brains are programmed to like winning.  Even if it is a child's game like rock, paper, scissors ... the victory, however small, builds our confidence and releases positive endorphins.
 - And fourth, don't quit just because you miss one day or have one slip-up.  Instead, change your viewpoint and let that relapse remind you of how much better the new you is versus that old you.

So set some resolutions and stick to them.  And if you need someone to celebrate your success with, just give me a shout!  :)

Song of the Day
Today's song is "Some Nights" by the group Fun.  I love this song (minus the f-bomb).  The pulsing drum beats coupled with the passion in the lead singer's voice get me drumming and singing along every time.  In the mellower middle of the song there is a line wherein he asks himself "So this is it?  I sold my soul for this?" and other questions about the decision(s) he has made that led to this point in his life.  If that's not a resolution-related epiphany, then I don't know what one is!