STOCK PHOTO

Staff Report

With the new year upon us, many people have, of course, set resolutions to improve some aspect of their lives. Whether earning more money, improving relationships, losing weight or dropping other bad habits, like smoking; people typically feel compelled to make significant changes when January rolls around.

Problem is, many of the resolutions aren’t new. They were made the year before and likely the year before that. What’s the secret to making good on resolutions? How can a person get off the resolution merry-go-round and really change their life?

This may sound counter-intuitive, but by shifting their focus from making external changes to making internal, spiritual changes; people just might be able to realize some of the goals on their New Year’s list; making it far less likely that 2018 resolutions are repackaged for 2019.

In more of an “inside-out” approach, people position themselves for greater success by embracing three steps: watching their thoughts, giving more and practicing gratitude.

WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS

The quote “if you really knew how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think another negative thought,” is true. Your thoughts determine your life. According to Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Essentially, what you think about, you bring about. So, what are you thinking as it relates to changing your life? Your subconscious mind takes what you think literally, so thinking about what you do not want creates more of those types of experiences. Get clear about what you want and think about that!

GIVE MORE

Are you a cheerful giver? Or are you only in receive mode? To achieve goals, giving is an essential aspect because it places you in the flow of life. Giving includes, but is not isolated to a religious practice like tithing, which can throw people off. Give what you can, where you can. Perhaps you donate clothing you no longer use. Volunteer. Pay a compliment. Pray for others. Celebrate their success. Developing a generous mentality creates a ripple effect that places you in the flow of goodness. Give goodness and receive it.

PRACTICE GRATITUDE

Counting your blessings is a powerful way to achieve your goals. Gratitude is a game changer because it shifts your thinking from lack, what you do not have; to abundance, focusing on what you do have. And because what you think about most expands, thinking about your blessings draws additional blessings to you. As it relates to your goals, planning and pursuing them from a state of gratitude increases the likelihood of achieving them.