Self-Care Without The Guilt!

 "Why should I take care of myself? I thought I was supposed to put everyone else's needs first. And isn't self-care selfish?"

Self-care is an often misunderstood concept. Taking care of yourself does not mean neglecting everyone else in your life. And BIG NEWS-self-care has nothing to do with being selfish or a "bad" person. Self-care is as essential to life as breathing.

Before I continue, let me clarify how I define self-care. Self-care involves addressing your own basic needs, such as food, water, shelter, sleep, money to live on, etc. It also involves addressing some of your higher needs such as health, love, sense of belonging, etc. Self-care even involves addressing your wants and passions, including hobbies and the activities that make your heart sing and truly bring you joy. It means being nice to yourself. Treating yourself with love and respect. For some people-particularly those in care giving roles or with demanding schedules-finding 15 minutes a day of peace and quiet to themselves is a loving act of self-care.

Simply stated, self-care involves whatever it takes to make you feel energized, happy, balanced and at ease in this world. For me, self-care involves getting a really good night's rest...Eating nutritious, energizing foods...Getting in some movement, because my body loves to move....Filling my life with positive people....Having time daily for spirituality...Having fun by dancing, listening to great music, hiking in the mountains, being in the beauty of nature...It also means thinking positive thoughts and talking kindly to myself...which also means that when my inner critic shows up, I get to gently tell her she has the rest of the day off...

Whatever self-care means to you, it is IMPORTANT. Not just important, but VITAL. Vital to your well-being, your enjoyment of life, and your SURVIVAL! If you do not take care of yourself, you will not survive. If you do not feed yourself-physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually-you will starve to death. Lack of self-care leads to a great deal of stress for our minds, bodies and spirits. And unfortunately, a majority of chronic and acute illnesses are linked to high levels of stress. In some ways, neglecting your own self-care is like slowly-or even quickly-ending your life.

Why else might you want to take good care of yourself? Well, if you are a caring person and responsible for the care of family members or others...you cannot give what you don't have. If you are not healthy, energized and balanced yourself, how can you possibly expect to tend to someone else's healthy, energy and happiness? If you give, and give and give, and never receive-from others or from yourself-you are left with nothing. Completely void, without anything left to give. I am sure many of you can relate to how that void feels-in your body, mind, and spirit.

My favorite analogy here is a bucket. If your bucket is empty, you have nothing left to give. The more full your bucket, the more you have to give. Life is a constant process of pouring from your bucket, and refilling-giving and receiving. How do you refill your bucket? With self-care, self-love, self-nurturing...by doing all those things that bring you balance and joy. Self-care is the supply of water that will fill your bucket and allow you to continue giving and loving.

I am not suggesting that you engage in so much self-care that you forget everyone else. That would not be good either. I am suggesting a good balance of self-care and care for others.

And one final thought...Self-care is NOT selfish. It is self-preserving. It makes your life flow a LOT smoother. The happier and more balanced you are, the happier and more balanced others around you can be. Taking good care of yourself is actually the most loving thing you can do for others.

So there you have it! 100% certified, bona fide PERMISSION to take good care of YOU. Should anyone try to give you a guilt trip, have them read this article-or send them to me.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3617072

Self Care Ideas (20 Activities To Reduce Stress + Feel Better)

On Monday I spoke about how self care is important for you to have a healthy mind and body, and one thing that I realised was that you may be lacking ideas for self care, so today, I have a simple video to share with you today with what you can do to increase your self care. 

I hope you find them useful. Let me know which were your favourite self care idea in the comments. 

It Is OK Not To Be OK At Times

The other week I had hit the wall. I was exhausted, frustrated and broke down. Lockdown had finally got to me and I was done. 

I was thinking of how things were before we got into this situation, being able to work with clients on a daily basis, being able to get to the gym and workout and the general freedom that comes 'normal life'.  I was amazed that it had not hit me earlier, as I am a social person and speaking to people on Zoom is not the same. 

You may think that as a coach that helps people lose weight, gain confidence, deal with life's problems etc that I should have it all together all of the time. As you can tell that is not always the case.

But I think that is what makes me a good coach, knowing that I am not okay all of the time so that I can relate to other people who will be in a similar situation.

I decided I needed to go for a good walk and walked in to the city centre, knowing it would pretty much be quiet. Along the way I had reminders that although things are not great, how much I had grown in the last 3 years in terms of what I had achieved, how much I had learnt and that I had overcome adversity before and that this was blip and could easily bounce back.

That afternoon after the walk I had taken stock of my thoughts and went about organising myself to get myself back to the usual self. I started with doing the one thing I had not been doing for a while and taking note of all of the things that I was grateful for that I have in my life right now - everything from how my girlfriend is an amazing support for me right down to the fact that I have made good decisions on my investments.

I would urge anyone who is reading this and feeling low, to start with this, because experience has told me that you cannot be angry, sad or frustrated at the same time that you are feeling grateful for what you do have and not worry about what you do not have. 

The next thing I can suggest is that you learn something new, either something that relates to you current work or something that is going to inspire you and allow you to become fully involved in it. Now is a good time to do that and there may never be a better time to have the time to learn.

Finally, I would take some time for some self-care. As a coach one of my teachings is that you cannot help others fully if you have not taken care of yourself. And yes, it sometimes is hard to switch off but it is necessary to do so. Self care will be different for people, for some it may well be treating themselves to something, for others it would be to read a book. 

With clients I will sit down with them and schedule in self care and make sure that they do it. Making it a habit, and a good one, is hard for people because they do not always get the instant benefit or gratification, but is important to ensure that you do self care to ensure that you can cope with all that life throws at you and not let things get on top of you. 

Regardless of the above, just know that it is okay not to be okay at times, life will not always be at a place that you want it to be but you do have options that can change your perspective of where you are and to make the future positive so there is always light at the end of the tunnel. 

Exercise At Home Without Equipment - Five Effective Body Weight Exercises To Blowtorch Excess Fat

If you are among those busy individuals who do not have time to go to a gym, then you might as well just exercise at home without equipment. Due to your tight schedule at work, getting a gym membership might not be possible for you. So to help solve your dilemma, here are various exercises that you can simply do at home without the use of any equipment.

Jogging

Jogging is the best exercises that you can do at home, as it does not require you to own a field or a lawn just to perform this exercise. What's great about jogging is that it has several benefits for it is a good cardio exercise and it works your entire legs and body at the same time. So take time to jog at home even for 30 min. each day and make sure to get yourself a pair of comfortable jogging shoes to avoid hurting your feet.

Crunches

Ab crunches is the best way to get that perfect abs that everyone is dying to have. To do this, like your back on the floor and bend your knees to come up with a 90-degree angle. Afterwards, place your hands right behind your head, then tuck-in your abs and start the crunches while keeping your lower back to lay flat on the floor.

Lunges

Lunges is also one of the best exercise at home without equipment, as it work you're your entire hips and legs. Make sure to stand upright when performing this exercise and begin by taking a big step forward using your left leg, while bending your right knee at the same time. Afterwards, push yourself back up in order to go back to a standing position and then taking the next step by alternating both left and right legs.

Jumping Jacks

Jumping jacks is a very enjoyable exercise that you can easily do on your own at home without using any equipment. This fun-filled activity is a great exercise that will work your hands, legs, as well as your thigh muscles. Begin this exercise by standing on both feet, with your arms placed on your sides, and then tuck your abs in, while jumping as high as you can, with your knees bending.

Rotation exercises

This is done by rotating your wrists in both clockwise and counter clockwise direction. Afterwards, alternately rotate your feet in the same way and then place both of your hands on your shoulders, then rotate your shoulders in the same direction as well. You can also lie flat on your back to do a rotation exercise, by lifting your left leg and rotating it clockwise and then rotating the other leg afterwards.

There are so many home exercises that you can do at home without using any equipment, aside from those mentioned above. Now take note that when you exercise at home without equipment, make sure to wear proper exercise gear so to be able to do the exercise well. You may also play your favorite dance music in the background in order to make the mood lively.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6398547

5 Good Ways To Exercise At Home

There are many good ways to exercise at home to stay fit and healthy if you don't want to go the gym. When you know how to exercise at home you can do it at anytime of the day or night, you don't have to drive anywhere to do your workout and you can do it in total privacy. There are some great pieces of equipment that provide good ways to exercise at home that do not cost the earth to buy.

1. Skipping Ropes.

Skipping ropes or jump ropes are not just about fun for kids. A skipping rope provides a good way to exercise at home if you're on a budget. They are low cost and provide a great exercise routine for your legs along with toning your upper body and helping you to lose fat. Skipping also strengthens your heart and lungs.

2. Resistance Bands.

Some people consider resistance bands as something used by middle-aged ladies. But they have become an integral part of professional body building due to their ability to target many different muscle areas. When using resistance bands for your workout, choose bands with a resistance appropriate to your strength and the exercise you are doing.

3. Exercise Balls.

Exercise balls are used for weight training and physical therapy. They are a little harder to store, but when it comes good ways to exercise at home, to stay on the ball you're forced to engage all your muscles, which builds strength and improves stability. Even sitting on them instead of a chair provides a great work out for the abs. Fitness balls come in many different diameters and prices range depending upon the size and how much pressure it supports.

4. Weights.

It is well worth finding out how to exercise at home correctly with free weights so that you can use a full range of exercises including curls, squats, dead lifts, and lunges, all which work different muscle groups. Resistance or strength training is often considered one of the best ways to lose weight because muscles burn more calories, even while they are at rest.

5. Kettlebells.

Kettlebells provide good ways to exercise at home for high-intensity interval training. These odd looking weights, that look like a cannon ball with a handle, originally came from Russia. They are excellent for merging endurance, cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training. Unlike conventional free weights, kettlebell exercises often involve more repetitions and work several muscles at the same time, particularly the legs, arms, shoulders and lower back.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8794061

To Exercise At Home

Exercise in lockdown. If you are like me then there is something about going to the gym - the people, the equipment, knowing that it is somewhere away from the house - so what happens to the mindset when you can no longer go to the gym and you are restricted about what you can do outdoors?

Simply, it is a different ball game altogether. So where I live you are not allowed out of your local boundary for exercise, which for me should be okay but there is something about that makes it even more challenging. 

I love riding my bike and when I moved into my current house, the first thing I got out of storage was my bike because I love travelling to various parts and be gone for a prolonged periods of time, but now that has been curtailed and I find myself in a position where my mindset is not on exercise. 

So I had to start again when it came to the new lockdown. I had to get myself on my bike at home (I have a stand to put it in so that I can cycle) and just go for 20 minutes at a time. It is not the same as being on the road or being in the gym but it is an important start for where I need to be and I am sure that there are people reading this that feel exactly the same. 

This experience has made we realise how grateful I will be when the gyms are open again, as I realise that it is nice to be in a place with people, even though I may never speak to anyone who is in at the same time as me.

But in addition, I realise the importance of making sure I keep going and simply start with 20 minutes a day so that I keep active so that when the gyms open again I am not playing catch up again. 

So if you are reading this and feel the need to do something, start by giving yourself easy wins such as committing to 20 minutes a day so that when we are able to enjoy time in the gym we won't take it for granted. 

Do You Ask "Am I Good Enough?"

Am I good enough?

Here is a curious thought!! Are you good enough? You may say, "Good enough for what?" Well, only you know that one!! But there are things that make us feel that we are not good enough, tall enough, smart enough, old enough, young enough etc. Now, the question is not; "Have you ever thought that about yourself?", rather, "How often to think that about yourself?" So when you do, have you stopped to ask yourself, "Enough in comparison to what or to whom?" To ask that of yourself, there has to be something that you are measuring it against. A measure of what enough looks like.

How else would you know?

Also, what evidence do you have that supports that statement? If you can put your evidence in a wheelbarrow, then there might be some truth to it. In that case, you are able to do something about it. However, if your evidence is not tangible and something that you can't touch, I would then challenge you. I would challenge you to ask yourself if this evidence is real, is it simply just hear say or is it just a creation of your mind? So, what do you do? Find the feeling in your body, ask yourself; "What is the learning or the message here? What are you suppose to learn from this feeling? What would your life be like, if you did have this feeling? What would your life be like if you didn't have this belief about yourself? How is this belief serving you? Can you let it go and free yourself? Can you take that feeling, focus on it until it dissolves and goes away? What do you do next? How do you create the person that is enough?

Start to dream.....!!!! Create a gap skill analysis for yourself. Imagine yourself as the future you, behaving in the way that is just right, feeling so good. Then ask yourself; "What do I have to do and who do I have to become so that I can achieve this?" Decide on this for yourself before moving from who you are, to who you want to be. Allow yourself to become that person day by day, that person who is always "enough". Allow your day and your life to be filled with wonder, so that you can have a wonderful day.

Keep it going and pass it forward.

Enjoy and have fun

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6780995 

Believe In Yourself - Powerful Motivational Video

Sometimes the best thing you can do is to start doing something. It also comes to do the little bits consistently everyday. 

Lockdown has meant that I have been spending more time at home. Now when I am in a gym environment I feel on top of the world in the sense that I know that I am good enough to help every person in the gym if they wanted it, but at times when I have been at home and not be around people my mindset can wonder. 

So I have taken the time to realise my strengths, and go out to help as many people who want it. 

It all begins by how I spend my day. I look to spend 10 minutes each day going over what I know I am good at and not to let outside circumstances interfere with that.  What helps is listening to a motivational video / speech everyday to get me fired up to be the best that I can be each and every day. 

Stop Believing That You Are Not Good Enough

90% of my clients believe that they are not good enough. The thing is our belief runs our life. Believing that they are not being good enough doesn't create the inspiring life that they like to have. Do you have a similar belief? How would you possess the power to be in control when you believe that you are just not good enough.

This unsupportive belief causes many to live life below what they are capable of. Did you also live life below what you are capable of? Did you miss out some good opportunities because you are holding on to this belief?

A client who had the opportunity to shine, turned down an opportunity as a stand-in leader in his team because he didn't believe he can do it. He didn't believe that he was good enough to take up the challenge. Missed opportunity!

Another client delayed sending out his resume to apply for a senior executive position because he didn't believe that he was up to it. He didn't believe that he was good enough to work side by side with the senior management. Missed opportunity again!

Although I consider myself an adventurer. I had my fair share of missing out opportunities because at times I believed that I wasn't good enough.

In 2008, I met a Corporate Trainer who told me that I could only train lower executive. I believed her. That day on, I closed my doors to all senior executives and management training contracts. Missed opportunities that may amount to $200,000 worth of training contracts. Seriously, am I not good enough?

If you are to convert your lost opportunities into money, how much have you lost?

Who told you that you are not good enough?

Your mom, dad, siblings, teachers, cousins, uncles, aunties, anyone whom interacted with you can be the culprit. Oh, not forgetting the TV, newspaper, policies, media, on and on.

Very funny, you chose to believe what they say to you but not what you say to YOURSELF.

You lose confidence and self esteem the moment you believe that you are not good enough because other say so.

"You can never master the piano."

"You can't be as good as your cousins."

"If you are half as smart as your sister."

"Don't think you can ever amount to anything."

And the list goes on and on...

We are borne to be winners but when we start believing these unsupportive statements that other tell us, we begin to feel like loser. You probably heard these unsupportive statements when you were younger. Then, you didn't have the wisdom to differentiate between facts and interpretations.

Right now you are wiser, you possess the wisdom to choose what you want to believe.

How to Start Believing You Are Good Enough?

When someone send you some unsupportive statements again, you can response with this.

Example 1

Other: "You can never amount to anything."

You: "What made you say that?"

Other: (regardless of the reasons)

You: "Thank you for sharing your opinion, and that's your interpretation, it's not the fact.

What about unsupportive belief that's you already believe?

Imagine there is a task that you don't believe you can do it.

You: "How come I can't do it?"

You: "Who told me that I'm not good enough to do it?"

If someone ever told you that you can't do it, go back to Example 1, otherwise go to Example 2.

You: "Thank you for his/her opinion. That's his/her interpretation, it's not the fact.

In Example 2, no one told you that you are not good enough to do it but yourself. And so you can response to yourself.

You: "What had me believe that I'm not good enough to do this?"

You: "Is it my own interpretation?

You: "What can I tell myself to be good enough?"

You: "What else can I do to be good enough?"

After going through this simple process, you busted your unsupportive belief. With the "just not good enough" conversation gone, you are ready to take on what you need to take on.

Looking forward to you taking more action and achieve more in your life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7453670

Get Up And Take Action - Tips On How You Can Become A Doer

Some people are born doers. Others think about doing something but, at the end of the day, never actually get anything done.

So, how can you go from being a "thinker" to being a "doer"?

First, you've got to adopt the right mindset. People who jump up and take action tend to be very well-organized. They have an ability to move from one task to the other without much effort. So, if you always seem to be disorganized, drowning in a sea of papers, or unable to shift gears at a moment's notice, you've got to change your way of thinking. Once you get organized, you'll be one step closer to taking action!

If it seems like "doers" have more energy than you do, you're probably right. Instead of being blessed with more stamina, "doers" have an ability to feed on taking action. It gives them a rush of adrenaline and, thus, an energy boost!

The "thinkers", on the other hand, spend the entire day floundering. Then, when the day ends, nothing's been accomplished - but they feel exhausted! When they try to assess how much progress has been made (or, in their case, HASN'T been made), they get overwhelmed and feel even more exhausted. It's a dangerous cycle!

OK, so how do you get out of the cycle?

- Make a to-do list.

That way, you'll know about everything you need to get done. Even better, prioritize your list so you know where to start. Then, when you cross items off the list, you'll feel the satisfaction and get the adrenaline rush "doers" experience!

- Reward yourself.

When you scratch everything off your to-do list, give yourself a pat on the back. After all, this is a big victory! If you're honest with yourself - and reward yourself for working hard (no cheating!) - you'll look forward to these rewards. They'll give you an adrenaline rush that motivates you to keep aiming for them!

- Tap into the power of visualization.

If you've got a particularly important or challenging task to tackle, close your eyes and visualize yourself doing it. By seeing yourself accomplish it, you'll have the energy you need to go out and really do it!

(The biggest key to visualization is the details. So, when you visualize yourself doing something, focus on every "little thing" there is - from start to finish!)

- Build on your own adrenaline.

Even a small accomplishment will give you an adrenaline rush. So, take that energy and use it to move onto the next task. Think of it like training for a marathon - every mile you run makes you more prepared to take on the big race. If you build on these waves of adrenaline, you'll have the energy you need to go out and take action!

- Focus on solutions.

A big difference between "doers" and "thinkers" is their approach to problems. "Doers" tend to view the world with a "can do" attitude - meaning they believe every problem has a solution. "Thinkers" tend to have a "can't do" attitude -meaning there are some problems that just can't be overcome.

No matter what challenges you're facing, clear your mind and concentrate. It may take awhile, but a solution WILL come to you!

- Seek out other "doers".

Most of the happy people out there are the action-takers. The more time you spend with them, the happier you'll be. Associating with them will help to change your mindset, and eventually, the way you act!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7879975

Are You Taking Action To Receive The Results You Desire?

Have you been searching for the answers to help you move forward in life? If so how long have you been searching? A week, a month, a year, 10 years?

Action And Discipline Are The Keys To Success

Okay so maybe you have heard this before or maybe you haven't either way I can guarantee you if you think back to any past experiences where you achieved any level of success in your life you will see those two key elements appear every single time.

Now when I say success it doesn't have to be a huge achievement like running a successful business or making a fortune, it can be anything of importance to you.

Examples could include getting on the school football team, winning a sports competition, getting a job, buying your first car, finding your partner etc are all achievements in there own right but to achieve these you would of first needed discipline to prepare for what was required then you would have had to take action otherwise nothing would have happened.

So let's say, if you didn't practice your football skills (the discipline) and then go to the trials for the team (the action) you wouldn't have made the team and so you wouldn't have been successful to make the team.

The big problem is that most people go through life not realising that this is what makes the difference to anything they want to do even though everyone has experienced it at some point and usually without realising and so they never actually achieve the greater things they dream about.

Most people lack motivation as well but this can easily be overcome by simply taking action, just small amounts of disciplined action on a daily basis over time will produce results.

So I hear you say "well I'll wait until I get motivated then I'll take some action".

But that will never happen trust me, it took me a long time work out that if I just take action any action at all then what will happen is that I will get a result and by getting a result I will gain belief.

Now the simple fact is people will not even attempt to try something they don't believe they can do...so this is how I see it works:

Beliefs determine your understanding of your potential which leads to action, action creates results. Results create motivation and more belief and then more action automatically occurs.

Now is the time to take disciplined action and soon you will realise how true the above paragraph really is if you just apply yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6475395

This New Year, Change You

Here we are again at the end of another year in our lives. All of us will get up on New Year's Day and make a vow to change certain things in our lives. A great majority of us will target the same areas, money and health. Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but most of you reading this article have made the same commitment for the last ten New Years. What will be different this year from last year?

I already know it will be virtually impossible to find a parking spot at the fitness center starting in January. I already know everyone will get their credit card statement and say "next year I'm not buying all this Christmas stuff." I know all these things because they are a repeat of last year and the year before that. It's like the movie ground hog day where every day, Bill Murray woke up to the same reality.

Well now that we have addressed our lack of follow through, let's talk about changing our old way of doing business. The word change is the key to our discussion, because in order to change our reality, we need to change. We have heard this word all through the election and we are still hearing it, but what does it mean to you.

One of my favorite phrases is "if you can't change the people around you, change the people around you." It's a well studied principle that if you add up the annual income of your five closest friends and find the average income, it will equal your annual income. The reason for this is people generally associate with people they are financially comfortable around.

Whether it's money or health, you are who you associate with, if your friends eat poorly, on average you will do the same. I want to conclude this article by creating a desire within yourself to really make a commitment to your goals for the coming Year.

First put your goals in writing, and post them somewhere that you will be able to see them every day. Next if possible find other people who have similar goals and form an integrity team. The people on the integrity team will be committed to calling each other and making sure each person is staying on track. Last but not least, make your goals obtainable. If you set unrealistic goals, you will quit on them, because you will know they can't be accomplished.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1835791

I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions - One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year!

Happy New Year Folks! Today is the first day of the rest of our lives for those of us who enjoy making New Year Resolutions. We have received the gift of a blank page in our life story. We received the gift of time: 365 days to write the next chapter, One resolution, One day at a time.

Are you ready to make the most of these gifts? Consider the wonderful rewards that await each one of us if we choose the path of achievement, the path that will enable us to fulfill our cherished dreams. Think about the sights and sounds we will experience, the people we will meet, the things we will learn if we summon the courage to make the journey, and enjoy it one day at a time.

I'm ready. Are you? Personally, I've been making and keeping New Year resolutions for most of my life. I'm a 'Serial Goal-Setter'. I've read scores of books in search of the best strategies for success. I practice strategic planning as part of my business, which provides communications, fundraising and photography for Members of Congress, non-profit organizations and associations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. I truly enjoy making and keeping resolutions and goals. I passionately enjoy the journey: pursuing my dreams, goals and resolutions.

Creating my business was a dream. In 1999, armed with the motto, 'Do what you love, Love what you do', I built my business from the ground up around the things I love to do. Working from home was another dream. I live that dream. I work from home on projects I love. Over the years I've achieved a wide variety of other dreams, resolutions and goals. On January 1, it's tradition to flip through my journals. I reflect on my successes, mistakes, learned lessons, and my future prospects. Reflecting in this way is both humbling and empowering.

Fortunately, I'm blessed with family, friends, colleagues, and mentors who provide a helping hand. I'mthankful for that assistance and my intention, in 2007, is to offer that same 'helping hand' toothers. I admit, some of my goals, resolutions and dreams sit idle on my 'Things To Do List', but they're on that list for one reason: 'Someday I will make those dreams a reality'. I diligently pursue my dreams because they are the centerpiece of my life. I pursue them because I've learned 'how' to achieve them. I pursue them because I 'can' and I 'do' achieve them.

You can successfully pursue your 2007 New Year resolution - your dream - too! It's within your reach. It's within your power. It's up to you to make that choice. Do it today! If you want to make and keep your resolution, a word of caution. Please be very careful to avoid the 'someday, someday, someday mousetrap': a white mouse spins and spins on a wheel to nowhere. That wheel takes you no closer to your dreams. Instead it delays your progress day after day, until you've run out of days, end of story. Don't fall into that trap. Consider, instead, a simple, common sense way of achieving New Year resolutions.

FIRST STEP: Dare To Dream..

Open your mind and forget about drafting that tired list of 10-20 things you hate about yourself, or feel you must change, the one you drafted a year ago and buried somewhere on your desk. I call it the 'Sins List'. You buried that list for a number of reasons: too many vague goals, no commitment, no desire, no plan. In 2007 you don't need a 're-do, or a do-over' for failing to achieve your 'Sins List'. Instead, learn your lessons and move on, forget about the past. In 2007 'Just Do It': One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year - Successfully Pursue Your Dream! You don't need to be a 'Serial Goal-Setter', and you don't need a Ph.D. in Strategic Planning. With faith, hope, optimism, conviction, passion, and a plan you can make your dream a reality in 2007!

Forget about the promise you've made to yourself in the past: 'I will do it someday'! In 2007 Do it today: One resolution, One day at a time for One Year! You probably already have the talent, desire, commitment and, most importantly, the dream. Maybe that dream is just a small spark in your heart and soul, known only to you. There is no better time than the present to turn that spark into a flame and fan the flame with all you're worth. Stop waiting for 'someday' to arrive. Do it today!

In 2007 try something different. Think outside the box. Don't be afraid to pick up that bright red crayon and color outside the lines. Visualize your dream in whatever way works best for you! But act with one system, one purpose, one simple framework, one clear-cut blueprint that will guide you up the mountain to the pinnacle of success.

Lose that boulder chained to your back: those tired 10-20-must-do-resolutions from 2006, 2005, 2004! In 2007, pursue just one cherished dream, or make one important changein your life. If you have true interest, desire and passion about your resolution, you will be strong and determined enough to see your plan to completion. Once achieved, that dream will be with you for life. You don't have to abandon it and race on to the next goal.

If your dream is to learn photography, you'll build on your skills year after year. If your dream is to exercise, you'll put on those tennis shoes each and every day. Your dreams become lifelong habits that you enjoy day after day, year after year! They are you - unique! They are with you for life! If you pursue just One resolution, One day at a time for One year, dedicating just 30-minutes each day - that's a full 7.5 days logged each year. Think about it. That's a lot of time! Even if you only work on your resolution a few days each week, or 20-minutes each day, the time compounds like interest in the bank.

Another important consideration: forget about achieving your dream overnight. That strategy will send your dreams to the 'goal graveyard'. Writers don't write best-sellers overnight. Athletes don't make it to the Olympics in just a few practice sessions, they practice, practice, practice, every single day. These folks are dedicated to their dreams.

If you're dedicated to your 2007 resolution, you can achieve great things too, and you don't have to devote all your time and attention to that one single goal. Devote just 30-minutes each day for one year and get on with the rest of your life. There will be days you simply can't work on your resolution, life is busy. Our dreams are often overtaken by events, but that's okay, don't beat yourself up. You'll get back on track. That's life. Everyone encounters potholes, detours, and bumps along the way.

Take the very first step now. Open your mind. Dare to Dream. If you were given all the time and money in the world, what dream would you passionately pursue in 2007? I asked a close friend that question last spring and he scratched his head, and said "read and travel more". He can do those things right now if he makes that choice, and he doesn't need all the time and money in the world to do it. He just needs to make a decision and act on it!

SECOND STEP: Decide.

After all, resolve means to decide firmly with great determination. In 2007, open your mind, dare to dream. Make a leap of faith: Decide to 'go for it'. In those initial steps, you'll have made enormous progress. Your life won't change overnight. Anyone who promises overnight, instant change is likely selling snake oil. Realistically, your life will change gradually. If you make the journey, one day at a time, the daily rewards add up and can make profound change for the better over time.

THIRD STEP: Define.

Specify your resolution concisely in one sentence. Don't 'resolve to exercise more'. Instead, 'resolve to exercise for 30-minutes each day by biking, walking, gardening, swimming, playing tennis, stretching, doing Yoga, and working out with weights'. You don't have to do all those things everyday, but that resolution is specific and measurable. It will also keep you interested for a long time because it's fun, gives you choices, and makes you feel great, both mentally and physically. Trust me. That exercise resolution works!

It was MY resolution in 2005. I was determined and I worked out 80% of the time for 30-minutes daily. In 2006 I worked out 65% of the time for 30-60-minutes daily, a lower percentage because I chose to take a break from exercise and a variety of other projects to avoid burn-out. That break was a wise decision. I'm now rested and ready to 'go for it' in 2007!

FOURTH STEP: Develop A Plan.

For many people that's one of the hardest steps. To be successful, you have to create order out of chaos. You wouldn't build a house without a blueprint. You wouldn't travel from New York to San Francisco by car without a roadmap. The same is true for resolution-keeping. It's easy to make them, hard to keep them. There are several important ingredients to building and implementing a successful plan:

1. Creating a managable 'Things To Do' list in which all tasks are broken down into small daily steps;
2. Doing daily, weeekly and monthly progress reviews;
3. Devising course corrections, as you do your progress reviews; and,
4. Avoiding that 'goal-killer' procrastination, instead motivating yourself to stick with your resolution roadmap, your blueprint for success!

FIFTH STEP: DO It Daily! Sounds Simple? It is!

This strategy is based on common sense, perfect for busy people. In closing, this week, since you have the gift of time, 52-weeks, open your mind and Dare To Dream. Above all, take your time, do your homework, build your plan. Learn to walk before you run. If you don't raise the bar too high, you'll learn to soar over it in 2007!

Remember: I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!

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