Keeping New Years Resolutions in 2009

Another year has come and gone - we're closing out 2008 and bringing in 2009! It appears to me that most people in America are fairly tired of 2008 and will be all too happy to bring in the New Year with a bang! With 8 being the number for new beginnings, 2008 started out new and fresh, but all too soon began to draw out. Finally with the presidential election some closure came about, but now we are stuck in limbo waiting for things to change. The economy has plummeted, and Wall Street has reached all-time lows. How in the world has the country's average on gasoline gone to $1.69 a gallon!! It is all too crazy. Bring on the New Year, and of course, bring on the New Year's resolutions with it.

Before we look at resolutions, I want you to put on your literary seatbelts while I give you some exciting information that is really going to perk you up. The year 2008 brought us 'new beginnings' both as a country and in our personal lives, and now if we look at the meaning of the number 9, in 2009, it actually means the 'fruit of spirit', which means that in 2009 we are going to get the fruit of our efforts in 2008! For those of us who hung in there, listened to all the inaugural speeches and campaigns, voted, didn't let the stock market eat your lunch and simply maintained the best you could - 2009 is going to be a year of a

turnaround and getting back some of what was lost. It will be a better year! Yea!

So now is the time to begin thinking about your New Year's Resolutions. What is it that you want to change to be a better you in this year of change? This year you're going to make it stick. A New Year's Resolution is a Great way to take control of your life and your environment and move on to better things. This year is the year to really give it your all and pull yourself up. Did you know that your habits create your character? And it's the decisions that you make that create those habits? And what is a New Year's Resolution but a decision to change something in your life and hopefully to make it better, or more healthy and happy.

So now that we've stuck a pin in that big inflated idea of what a New Year's Resolution is, and called it what it really is - a new decision or choice, let's get some ways of keeping the decision and making it a habit in your life.

Here are 5 ways to help you stick to your decision:

1. Whatever you choose as your resolution, loosing weight, saving money, getting more exercise, it doesn't matter, I want you to say your resolution OUTLOUD or better yet, write it on a piece of paper and tape it on your refrigerator or computer. Doing this will make it a reality and it will be something concrete to remind you of your goal.

2. Do a little investigating on your choice; Google it. The more you know about something the less fear there is of not doing it and it will give you more power to work with.

3. Get Ready! If you chose something like loosing weight, get the appropriate food in the house and know where you can get more if the craving hits. If it's something like have a Garage Sale to make some extra money and clear out clutter - well then start getting the materials you'll need together; labels, signs, etc. Get into Action with your choice.

4. Be Good to yourself! If you have done well, pause and give yourself a "little" reward at the end of the month. Wait until you actually finished your New Year's Resolution and it has become a habit to give yourself a bigger reward.

5. If your New Year's Resolution for 2009 was a one time thing, like cleaning the basement or the garage, then set a time to do it again, maybe in July, so that it won't become your resolution again next year in 2010!

Now that New Years' Resolutions don't sound so overwhelming, anymore, the ambitious, those who want to clean up the past and move on to a brighter future - can feel free to tackle another one. I have a good feeling that you are going to be able to make this year's resolutions and stick by your new choices and new habits for a healthier and happier You. And don't you deserve to have the best year of your life after this loooong year we just survived? Start bringing in the well deserved fruits of a new season that are waiting for you in 2009.