How to Succeed with Your New Years Resolutions

Every New Year papers and magazines publish scores of articles about shedding pounds. Every other commercial is aimed at selling a stronger and more confident new "YOU" through education or exercise, and infomercials shout that we will be complete with a new relationship or investment. To accomplish these goals individuals must give up old ideas to be successful with the new. A prime example is to be successful with any of the new low carbohydrate diets the dieter must surrender old ideas about counting fat and calories. Most of us have trunks packed with out-dated ideas. The weight of lugging this "stuff" around is a heavy burden. Some of these ideas are land mines to any hoped success in new endeavors. Emotional weight is the biggest reason for overeating.

With change comes friction. The friction occurs when the new rubs against the old. The friction is intensified when life is viewed from lenses muddied with fuzzy belief systems and old emotional baggage. Excess emotional baggage can contribute to excess stress and keep us stuck in the mire. Trying to prevent change or trying to change others can produce satchels of anxiety and resentments. Change is and inside job. If you want external change, you need to start with some internal house keeping. Here are six ways recommended ways to shed pounds of emotional baggage in the coming year:

Be open and receptive to new ideas: Don't be stubborn. Just because your Grandmother did it a certain way doesn't mean that you have to continue to live in the 19^th century. Observe your emotional response, the emotional response is embedded in defenses, and occurs more rapidly than rational thought process. Who are you frustrated or upset with? The emotional response has you living the past in the present. Make an extra effort to note when you repeat emotional responses and share it with someone who is not emotionally involved. If needed seek professional help. Ministers, doctors and therapists commonly understand human nature and are trained to help others facilitate change. build your support. Join a group. There are 12 Step groups for every problem. . Check out Debtors Anonymous, Weigh Watchers or Messy Anonymous. You do not have to do it alone

Learn to rest and relax: Spend time in calming activity each day. Learn how to meditate. A few brief moments spent on spiritual input or positive reflection can quickly reconstruct years of negative thought patterns. Yoga, Chi Gong and Thi Chi are very popular forms of relaxation. Take a class, but don't forget to pack your sense of humor.

Don't take IT so personally: Accept that others are often responding to their own emotional baggage. When conflicts a rise the other person has his own defenses, and need not collide with your American Tourister. Learn to laugh, don't take life too seriously. Humor is an important part of emotional health. When we can laugh at our own humanity, we can place things in their proper perspective. Invite others too laugh with you and their load with lighten, too. Schedule a trip to the comedy club or rent a movie and share the laughs. The endorphins reduce stress and keep you more focused.

Take responsibility for yourself: Learn to forgive. "But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high call of God." (St. Paul.) Forgiveness is always for the self, for it relieves the bondage of the pain, and allows you to move forward. The past is gone forever it cannot harm you. (A Course in Miracles.) You can let go of anger and resentments by praying for those who have injured you. Forgiveness releases all the time and energy that you would have spent in retaliation. Forgive yourself, too. God has already sent a Savior for your sins. Let it go, and grow. . Don't blame others for your circumstances. Don't be over concerned about others opinions, either. Learn to express emotions in a healthy manner. Repressed emotions often result in dis-ease and illness. However, don't go too great lengths to ruminate about the past, or you could get stuck in your responses. Life is lived in the NOW..

Don't wade in the middle: Middle of the road people are melba- toast and mediocre. They have no direction. If you are going to swim you are going to have to get wet. You can't have you cake and eat it to, as my grandmother always said. The worst part the post sitter is his self-deception. The proof really is in the pudding and you better test drive that old jeep before taking your road test. So make a plan and follow through. If you fall short, just start again. The only way to the finish line is one step at a time.