New Year - New You?

I wonder how many people will use this magical time – New Years Eve to make a resolution to be different in the new year.

Have you ever wondered where New Years Resolutions come from?

New Years celebrations are the oldest in our history, its believed we have celebrated the new year for over 4,000 years although we didn’t start to make resolutions till the Romans. Through many religious beliefs it is traditional to reflect on our wrongdoings and seek forgiveness. The concept is one of self improvement.

I gave up making new years eve resolutions years ago, like many people I’d write down my resolution keep it for a few days then go back to my previous behaviour. Then I’d feel bad as I hadn’t managed to keep to it, most of my friends did exactly the same thing. In fact one of them had been making the same resolution for years and years each time hoping that she would stick to it. She said things like maybe this will be my year, as if it was the new year that brought the changes she looked for.

A few years ago I was having a heart to heart with a good friend, and it turned into a giant whinge. As we moaned about relationships, our kids, time, stress, money etc etc etc. Sound familiar? After a while I got fed up with the vision of misery we were creating, each moan making us feel worse and worse inside.

So many people talk about, focus on, whats wrong with their lives.

So I stopped made some fresh coffee and we began to make a list about what was right with our lives and what we could do to make things better, and I decided to turn my life upside down. Now I don’t mean any positions that include my feet being higher than my head but turning my thinking upside down.

So now I work towards goals. I think about what I want – then check a few things including is it really what I want, will it be good for me and is it sustainable by me alone. I try it on (imagine) how it will be, what effect it will have on my life and those closest to me. Then if it passes all the tests I map out what I need to do to achieve my goal, and now I find that I do actually achieve my goals.

This is not a new idea, spiritual beliefs are based on counting our blessings; and theres a great side effect too. The more I focus on what is right, the better I feel, thus enabling me to think more clearly and make better decisions helping me to feel better.

Tina
www.tina-taylor.com