New Years' Resolutions
© Valerie Botbyl
In general I don't think anyone should make New Year's resolutions because life doesn't calm down enough for another week or two after the 1st. The first week or two after a life-changing decision is the most critical time of the change cycle. When the resolution maker is all pumped up to do something but somehow their life doesn't cooperate, they just give up. Feelings of defeat and self-doubt don’t just creep in, they run in like they are making a touchdown. I know I've sworn off fast food on more than one New Year's Eve just to be caught away from home only days into January, hungry, (hypoglycemia dictates that I eat whether I have money or not) and only $2 in my pocket. Taco Bell is about the only place I can manage to eat for that amount.
If I had a group of young people who would listen to me, I'd start teaching goal setting and life skills. I'd get them started reading books like Life Strategies for Teens by Jay McGraw and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Steven Covey. After a couple of weeks of reading I'd then approach the subject of making a goal list. Not a list of 25 items but a more realistic list of four or five. This is where diplomacy comes in handy. Many young people will reach too far. Yes I believe that every goal is attainable but only after certain conditioning. Just like running a 10K everyone needs to train for the big one.
Several small successes will build confidence. Instead of setting a goal of getting an "A" in history when the current grade is a "D" perhaps a better goal would be to study that particular subject for 30 minutes 4 times a week. Food goals can also be broken down. One of the worst eating habits is not eating breakfast. So start there. Or perhaps begin with
Go To Page: 1 2
