I have heard it said that research shows most people break their New Year’s resolutions by January 17. Now, I can’t find any real references to that on the Internet so it’s probably just a big urban myth, but I think most people would agree that an awful lot of New Year’s resolutions get sidetracked within a short period of time.

Think about your vision for the next year as you read this story.

A Native American elder was teaching his grandchildren about life. “A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight between two wolves.

“One wolf represents fear, anger, sorrow, regret, greed, self-pity, and guilt.

“The other wolf stands for joy, love, hope, empathy, generosity, and compassion.

“This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”

The grandchildren thought about that for awhile.

One of them asked, “Which wolf will win?”

The elder responded, “The one you feed.”

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want more for themselves and others. And, sometimes we get sidetracked by feeding another wolf. This is your chance to make a difference. You can be part of the group that breaks their New Year’s resolutions before January 17 or you can resolve to make 2008 a year that’s great. Which wolf will you feed?

Here are three coaching questions for you to ponder.

• What will make 2008 a year that’s great?
• What are three action steps you can take in the next month to begin to make that happen?
• Who can hold you accountable to these action steps?

May 2008 be a year filled with joy and prosperity for us all. May all the desires of your heart and soul be fulfilled.

Do you want to use this article somewhere else? I strongly prefer that you acknowledge my efforts by including the lines directly above this paragraph. That way people who are inspired by my work can find their way back to me, which will in turn support my values of sustainability and abundance.

It’s the new year and with that comes a few more months of winter. While the cold weather and snow covered ground may have been pretty in December, by the end of January it starts to wear on you. It seems that the weeks leading up to spring are not only frigid but they are down right depressing. Because of the cold weather, lack of light, and the dreary surroundings many of us face a bout of seasonal depression. Beat the winter blues and help fight your winter worries with these terrific tips.

• Light Up Your Day: It is believed that one of the biggest causes of Seasonal Depression is the decrease in serotonin caused by a lack of sunlight. Long hours spent at work under fluorescent lights are often met with early darkness which means a larger majority of people who work nine to five rarely see the sun. Combating this can be as simple as taking a walk during your lunch or replacing your home lights with halogen lights. Both of these solutions will boost your mood by subjecting you to light. When you get home from work try to turn on a few lights and refrain from sitting in dimly lit or dark rooms.
• Day Dream: Is the cold weather bringing you down? Sometimes the one thing you want (sunny days) I the last thing you can get, but that doesn’t mean there is no hope. Throw away everything you’re parents told you about day dreaming and let your mind escape for a few minutes each day. When you’re having a particularly bad day, close your eyes and imagine your self in your favorite summer setting. Feel the sun on your body and the light that floods your mind. Let yourself enjoy your brief moment away from reality to really get your mind off the less than desirable winter weather.
• Go Bright: Winter colors have a tendency to be drab and muted leaving your wardrobe representing your lack of enthusiasm. Whenever you’re feeling a little blue consider adding some bright hue’s to “brighten” your mood. Colors can have a positive or negative effect on your mood so take advantage of vibrant colors like reds and oranges to really bust those winter blues.
• Get Active: The winter blues can take their toll on your physical and emotional well being. Often times, as the winter progresses you may find that you are less and less active. Being less active will not only add on some unwanted winter weight but it will also work to deepen your depression. Make it a point to be active at least three or four days a week. Even a half hour of running or cycling can help you improve your mood.
• Buy a Plant: Looking out the window on a winter day can be a pretty depressing sight. Depending on where you live you may see tons of old snow that has turned black and brown and lifeless trees. You may not be able to change the outdoors but you can bring some life into your home, office, or apartment with a plant. For the ultimate boost choose one that lacks flowers so you can maximize the amount of oxygen in the room.

  By: Jen Wasilewski

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Celebration is often the word associated with New Years. Many fun, traditional parties are enjoyed. That is definitely part of the spirit of the holiday. However, there is much more.

To begin with, New Years Eve is a time to express gratitude for all that we have and what we have experienced. Even events that appeared negative often have a positive side of it too. For example, you may have been upset when you were laid off at your job but that freed you up to find an even better one. We can be grateful where we live, and that we are alive and healthy.

We can also celebrate the spirit of the New Years holiday in a symbolic ceremony. Many people experience it as a time to let go of the old and bring in the new. I have had gatherings with friends where we wrote on a piece of paper all that we wanted to let go of. These included: loneliness, struggle, illness, stress, and addictions. We happily crumpled up the paper and threw it into the burning fireplace. When a fire was not available, we dumped the paper into a designated garbage bag or pail. We often experienced a release and felt a smile on our faces.

Then we wrote down on another piece of paper what we wanted to experience in the New Year. Often included were loving, fulfilling relationships, good health, prosperity, a slim body, and peaceful feelings. We shared these with everyone in the group as if it was already happening. For example, “I am in a loving, fulfilling relationship. I am prosperous and slim.” To reinforce the affirmations, we supported everyone with their wishes by saying, “You deserve all that and more!”

Sometimes, we took it a step further and closed our eyes so that we could imagine or visualize how we wanted our lives to be. This is another great method of actualizing your desires.

Other times, people brought magazines and a poster board. We had fun looking for pictures that represented what we wanted to create it our lives. This is referred to as a treasure map and is very powerful.

For example, some men and women picked the car model, year, and color they wanted, as well as their dream home. Others cut out pictures of a person with a slim, healthy body. Fun vacation spots were popular. Sometimes words like prosperity were added. All these pictures and words were pasted onto the poster board, and they wrote their positive thoughts or affirmations under them.

I found this to be extremely powerful to attract things to me, so be sure that you include exactly what you want. For example, if you love a blue car, put that picture up and not a yellow one.

Of course, it is imperative to forgive yourself for anything you felt you did wrong. Guilt feelings cause us to punish ourselves. One way we do that is by not allowing ourselves to have what we desire.

Finally, it is important to forgive others. Anger hurts everyone involved. It is human to make mistakes. We all act out of fear at times instead of love. Have compassion for peoples’ pain and forgive them. This is the time to complete whatever needs to be dealt with so that you can begin with a new slate and bring in more love and peace. Then you can enjoy the spirit of the New Years holiday.

On January 1st you can declare, “Today is the first day of the rest of my life! I am choosing love and peace!” That is the key to health, happiness, success, and world peace.

By: Helene Rothschild

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Copyright 2007 by Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, Marriage, Family Therapist, speaker, and author of “ALL YOU NEED IS HART! Create Love, Joy and Abundance~NOW.” A Unique Guide to Holistic And Rapid Transformation. She offers international phone sessions, books, e-books, MP3 audios, teleclasses, and a free MP3 Audio, “Healing Your Body,” E-book, “Truths Set You Free,” and newsletter. www.lovetopeace.com , 1-888-639-6390.

Look back over the last year and ask yourself, “How did I do this year?”

Do you feel happy with your progress and what you have achieved over the last twelve months? Can you see some room for improvement? Some lessons to learn or some things to do over the coming year?

The New Year is an excellent time to reflect upon the previous year and decide what you want to do with the coming year. It’s a great time to make changes in your life and to make the decision to create your dream life.

Traditionally, the time between Christmas and the New Year is a slow time where there is not much to do except eat left over turkey and chocolates. It is one of the best times to sit down and really plan the coming year to make sure you make the most of it.

You see, you have 365 days every year, just like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and everyone else on this planet. Where you are at the end of the year is determined by how you use this time, and it is entirely up to you how you use this time.

Sit down and think about this year and ask yourself these questions. If necessary, write them down and reflect upon them.

1) What did you do really well over the last year?
2) What could you have done better over the last year?
3) What do you want more of this coming year?
4) What do you want less of this coming year?
5) Where do you want to be in your life at the end of this coming year?

These are fundamental questions that will really help you to make the most of the year and to make the coming year your year.

Start this New Year with a new year and make the decision to create the life of your dreams. You really won’t regret it and it’s never too late to create the life you’ve always desired.

If you’re not sure what you should be putting on your New Years Resolutions list, here are the top 7 resolutions other people have used:

1. Spend More Time With Friends and Family

It’s easy to get so busy with work that you neglect your friends and family. Before you know it, your friends have found new people to spend time with and your family have grown up. Plan to meet up with your friends on a regular basis, whether it’s for a meal or a movie. And make time to spend quality time with your family. You’ll thank yourself for it.

2. Get fit

Face it, most people aren’t as fit as they were in their younger days. Getting fit doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym 5 times a week. It could be as simple as parking further away in the parking lot, taking the stairs rather than the elevator and generally being less of a couch potato. You don’t need Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps to be fit…

3. Lose weight

This often goes hand in hand with getting fit. Choose an eating plan (notice I didn’t say diet) that fits with your lifestyle. Then take the time to notice your food when you eat it rather than wolfing it down and paying no attention. Notice when you are full and stop eating, even if there’s still food left on your plate. Start listening to your whole body rather than just eating “because”.

4. Quit smoking

A lot of people vow to quit smoking at the start of the New Year. Often they’re the same people you’ll see gasping for a cigarette a couple days later. Plan your quitting. Treat yourself to a hypnosis session or CD/book combination. Buy this for yourself as a Christmas present if you’re that organized. Then follow the program. It’s cheaper and more effective than patches or gum and doesn’t feed your body more nicotine.

5. Quit drinking

In the same way as smoking, a lot of people decide to quit drinking when the New Year arrives. The thought of hangover-free days and a healthier liver is good. Again, there are plenty of self-help programs that will assist with your quest to give up alcohol. Search around and you’ll find one that works with you.

6. Get a better job

Many people use the New Year as an excuse to change their jobs. Make sure you don’t leap from the frying pan into the fire by doing research on the new place you’re planning to work for. Read up on resume and CV writing to make sure that your application stands out from the crowd. Maybe use a hypnosis or subliminal program to boost your confidence and presentation skills.

7. Help other people

This is a very popular New Years resolution. There are plenty of voluntary organizations that would appreciate some extra help and volunteering is easy. Check locally for a list of different charities and choose one that fits with your personal goals and aims. If you can’t commit regularly, don’t be afraid to say so. It’s better to say “I can only help once a month” than to say you’ll help every day or week and then not attend.

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For more help with your New Years resolutions check out the ideas and assistance at Hypnosis ABC.

People usually think of Christmas as time for celebration and holidaying. However, the actual picture is far from it. The preparations for these celebrations usually eat up so much on your time that you are left stressed out and with no time for your self. You can however, simply prioritize things and enjoy the festive season in a much better way.

First of all, just decide not to do too much. Go through your Christmas card list and make necessary changes in it. You do not have to get gifts for all of your acquaintances. People move on and away, and if your college buddy has not been in touch for a couple of years, you can write one card less this year. However, keep a few token gifts, like chocolates or nuts, on hand and wrapped just in case you have to dish out an unexpected present.

Before getting down to your Christmas preparations make a ‘To do’ list keeping those things on the top that have high priority. Start doing things priority wise so that you can leave out the avoidable things if the schedule gets hectic. Do not try to do everything in little time. This can mess up things and leave you stressed out.

It is better to host a casual party than a formal dinner during the Christmas time. You can still keep on your nice clothes without making it a high dinner affair. Enliven the party with perky games and lots of handy yet elegant finger foods. It is wise to have a sandwich buffet for the guest where they can build their own sandwich and leave you with no serving worries. Do remember to keep this sandwich bar stocked with readily available nice hors ‘d oeuvres.

In order to eliminate stress from the Christmas celebrations, think of having a small get-together at home, rather than traveling to different places to see relatives. You will meet everyone and not get stressed out.

As long as you are consistent in not visiting anyone on Christmas, then no one can accuse you of trying to avoid them or playing favorites. Instead, travel to visit relatives two or three days after the holiday and stay for the New Year holiday. This way you can still visit relatives during the holiday season, but you are less stressed by having to rush through Christmas on someone else’s schedule.

Finally, do not leave all the post-festival cleaning for the last moment. Keep doing little things simultaneously such as keeping a garbage bag ready when you open your presents. Instead of throwing the papers and the packaging here and there you can directly out it in the bag. Do not keep piling up used things. Throw them as they are used. Have everyone load their dishes in the dishwasher after use.

There is no way to completely avoid Christmas stress, but by pacing yourself and refusing to allow the Christmas season to overtake your life, you can significantly reduce the stress you feel.

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As I’m sitting down to write this article Whitney Houston is crooning about “The Greatest Love of All” (I want to say it’s the radio but sadly, I’m playing her Greatest Hits CD… I’m a sucker for a feel good song) and it’s triggered some thoughts for me. Whitney is specifically referring to the love we have for ourselves as the greatest love of all, but what does that mean exactly? We’ve all heard the old adage “you can’t really love others until you love yourself” and yet most of us struggle, in real life terms, with being comfortable saying (out loud) “I love me!”

In The Secret Bob Proctor portrays the idea of loving yourself by enthusiastically kissing his own hand! What does it feel like to be THAT sure of who you are? I can tell you right now… it feels fabulous! It’s been a crazy journey to get to where I am today but I can honestly tell you that I love who I am, I’m proud of the woman I’ve become and I’ve earned this feeling. It came through blood sweat and MANY tears. But it is SO worth it. I wouldn’t change one single part of that journey. I am truly alive everyday of my life.

Katrina (Wilton – Co-Founder of Glow Health & Wellness) and I attended a Leadership workshop in 2002 where we took part in an exercise about discovering your ‘personal power’, it was challenging and frightening and it went something like this… One by one we took turns at standing up in front of the entire group and we had to yell as loudly and strongly as possible a phrase starting with ‘I am’. It had to be something relevant for us and we had to stick with that word and keep yelling until such time as the group unanimously clapped us to sit down. If even one of them wasn’t convinced then we had to keep going. How did they measure they’re conviction? Goosebumps. Yep that’s right… goosebumps. When you come from your true place of personal power, you can really feel it and, so can those around you.

Why do I tell you this story? To invite you to step up to your own personal power. Too often I see people living luke warm lives and believing that’s all there is to it. They stop expecting things to be different because they don’t know HOW to change them. We don’t always have the answers, we don’t always know the ‘how’ (honestly, we RARELY know the answers), but that’s the joy of life! Go out there and find the answers. Don’t do your best – DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. Being happy is worth it.

By: Sabrina Holmes

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Sabrina Maujean is a Director and Co-Founder of Glow Health & Wellness Pty Ltd. She is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Master Practitioner of Ericksonian Hypnosis, Master Results Coach and Performance Consultant.
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