Renew Your Spirit This Year

While many people set concrete goals like losing weight, saving money or traveling as part of their New Year's resolutions, I would like to invite you to consider renewing your spirit instead this year. The noble practice of tending to your inner spiritual light and cultivating a sense of peace in your heart may not seem so inviting, but the payoffs are tremendous! When we shift the focus from how we look on the outside to how we feel on the inside, great rewards can be gained and new insights achieved. Our soul is calling us home to true selves, if we take the time to listen.

Essentially, by renewing your spirit through regular daily meditation, you will avail yourself of a reservoir of peace and contentment that surpasses all material gains and desires. Additionally, you can learn to let the peace you feel in meditation ground and support you in your daily life and thus offer a more relaxed and calm approach to situations. Imagine sitting quietly, starting each day with full deep breaths, breathing deeply in through the nose and out through the mouth while focusing on relaxing every fiber of your being. After a time of following this soothing breath, you could then concentrate on breathing in the feeling of peace and breathing out any residual stress or worries. Once an inner stillness is felt, you could then sit and bask in this serenity, while enjoying the sense of being fully in the present moment, with nowhere to go and nothing to do. After this period of quietude, you can then use this powerful energy of inner tranquility to guide you and empower you with the greatest vision of your life.

Some of the greatest authors, artists and musicians have received their inspiration through quiet contemplative times. You too can receive inspiration for your life when you learn to tune in to the inner stillness of your soul. When you are calm and focused, your spirit can then use you as a vehicle for the expression of love, peace and creativity in this world. Answers to problems you face in your day to day life can be revealed through deep listening. Stress, struggle and worry tend to disconnect us from our true nature and our inner guidance. When unduly stressed, our physical vitality may become weak, sleep may be difficult and sickness can set in. Meditation brings us back home to ourselves, to our life force and to our innate self- healing power.

When we are centered in our bodies and calm in our minds, then we can face life with a sense of hope and gratitude. Our energy rises and our hearts open as we relax and let go. We can then become more receptive to receiving blessings in our lives because we are trusting that everything is perfect within this moment. Meditation teaches us to stop the struggle and just be.

During this New Year, I would like you to challenge yourself to renew your spirit each day, by meditating for thirty minutes. Just as in jogging the body benefits most from the exercise that is done after twenty minutes of a sustained cardio workout, so too with meditation. Meditating for a minimum of twenty to thirty minutes brings more results that five or ten minutes. Once this meditation practice is established, you can then use the meditation to consciously focus on what you want to create in your life. By imagining in your mind's eye during meditation, the way you want to feel in your day to day life, and what it is that you want to bring into your life you can align yourself with the forces of the universe to help in creating this happening. For example, if you want to feel more confident, and get a new job, you can envision yourself successfully handling a job interview and shaking hands with your new boss while feeling peaceful, comfortable and confident. In this way, through using the power of visualization you tap into the mystical power of manifestation in your life, and change can happen more readily.

As you can see there are many benefits to meditation, however as with any new skill or art it takes diligent practice to get better at it. I would like to suggest a free app for your phone called "Insight Timer". This app offers hundreds of meditations from many different backgrounds. Whether you are seasoned at meditating and wish to branch out and explore new ways of, or you are brand new, this app promises to delight you. There are guided meditations, music, chanting and nature sounds. Since we are all unique, find what works best for you and then commit to doing that meditation every day. You will be glad you did when you see the rewards of your practice coming to life in your world.

This simple yet profound act of meditating regularly and renewing your spirit can provide you with a source of inner strength, peace and power that is better than any trip or external goal you may set. Welcome back home to yourself. 

https://ezinearticles.com/?Renew-Your-Spirit-This-Year&id=10057196

How To Not Fail With Your New Year's Resolutions

New Year's resolutions are a hit during the beginning of every year, but it has acquired a bad reputation due to people giving up on their resolves. Statistics show that only 9.2% of people feel like they were actually able to achieve the resolutions they made.

Why do people give up? Some blame it on the lack of enthusiasm or passion; however, these reasons are too shallow. If enthusiasm or passion determined if we will reach our goals or not, then we wouldn't be failing in the first place.

People have a hard time accomplishing their resolutions not due to the lack of enthusiasm or passion but because of limited knowledge about behaviour change. Let's understand more about this first and later we will look at five reasons why we can't keep our New Year's Resolutions and see how we can fix it.

THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR

The Theory of Planned Behaviour by Icek Ajzen is considered to be one of the best models for behaviours affecting New Year's Resolutions. This theory explains why these resolutions fail and states that intentions or goals are built on three elements that serve as the foundation of being successful at keeping resolutions.

1. Attitudes around a behaviour
2. Social network's attitude towards the behaviour
3. Belief in one's ability to reach success at a behaviour

When all the three elements are lined up to support your goal it will be easier to achieve success in whatever area you want.

Let's look at this example. If you prioritize good health and the people you surround yourself with don't smoke, you will feel strong enough about quitting smoking so setting yourself up towards it won't be a problem.

But if good health isn't your top priority, and you're surrounded with people who smoke and have tried quitting but only to fail, then setting yourself up towards quitting smoking won't be that easy.

Also, what we can notice from this model is that goal setting is not the last step. It's important to know that there is a gap between the intention or goal and the behaviour. This gap is the reason people fail at keeping their resolutions. There is a need to act and take on the right kind of behaviour so that your intentions will turn into a reality, because if not, then goals will never be achieved.

Once we understand this model, we'll get an idea of the five reasons New Year's Resolutions fail. Let's go through these reasons now.

FIVE REASONS WHY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FAIL

Reason #1 - No Strong Reason Why

When you have a weak attitude toward your goals, there is a high chance that you will fail at keeping your New Year's resolutions. Make sure you are clear on why your resolution is important. Answer the reason why you need to achieve your goal and what will happen if you achieve it or if you don't.

Cultivate a strong attitude by making sure that the resolutions you make will impact your life for the better. In 2, 3, or 10 years' time what do you think life will be like if you keep your resolutions? The answer to that question will be a great motivation, an energiser, and a means for you to stay focused in order to accomplish your goals.

Find a compelling answer to WHY you need to keep your resolution.

1. Why do I need to accomplish my fitness goal? So I'll do well at my child's school sports day instead of becoming an embarrassment.
2. Why do you want to travel? So I can treat my parents who sacrificed their trips in order to provide first for my needs.
3. Why do you want to be successful at your new business venture? So that I can provide a better life for my family, my children can go to a better school and help my parent's pay their mortgage.

Those are just some answers to questions that will keep you on track. Always remember that a good answer to WHY will motivate you when it seems like you are about to give up.

Reason #2 - Weak Support Network

The five people you spend most of the time with is who you most likely are or who you'll become. That's how important a role the people you spend time with plays in your life. So, more than thinking about surrounding yourself with cool people, it's important that you have forged close connections to people who will hold you responsible for the accomplishment of your goals.

Even the most successful person will sometimes struggle in finding the motivation and accountability to keep a New Year's Resolution that is why surrounding yourself with people who care enough about your success will help keep you focused.

Here are some examples on how you can surround yourself with the right people who will help you achieve your goals:

1. Do you want to be fit? Join a gym near your area and tell your trainer to not go easy on you.
2. Do you want to start your own business? Find a networking organization and join them. Commit to attend their meetings.
3. Do you want to own a property? Consult and be mentored by an expert on property investment.

People who will challenge you, hold you responsible and push you to be better are what you need in life. Go out and find them if you don't have any now. Again, your close connections can either help you or break you into keeping your goals.

Reason #3 - Lack of Self Efficacy

Self-efficacy is a psychological construct first created in 1977 by Albert Bandura. This belief is related to one's ability to be successful in the accomplishment of goals.

There are actually two ways self-efficacy affects one's goals.

First, self-efficacy is linked to how a person creates challenging goals. The more confident they are of themselves, the more likely will they create goals that are more challenging and fulfilling. Second, self-efficacy determines how likely a person will take action after they are done setting their goals.

Cultivate self-efficacy daily until you reckon that you are unstoppable. This is important because achieving your goals requires that you believe in yourself. Here are 4 different ways to increase one's self-efficacy:

1. Performance Accomplishments

Goals can be broken down into smaller bits where every accomplishment is celebrated.

2. Vicarious Experience

Find someone who you consider as a role model. Observe how they act and apply what you have learned from them.

3. Verbal Persuasion

Everyone needs to be encouraged. Find someone, a life coach or a mentor perhaps, who will tell you the things you need to hear to boost your belief in yourself.

4. Emotional Arousal

Before taking any significant step toward the accomplishment of your goals, condition yourself by watching a movie or listening to music. There are actually other ways to do this, but the two I mentioned are the fastest ways to get you into a positive state.

Reason #4 - Lack of Compelling Goal(s)

A to-do list is different from a set of compelling goals. Just imagine, if both of them were the same, then people high-fiving at each other when they ticked off something from their shopping list would be a common sight to see at the supermarket.

One of the things that makes a compelling goal different is the excitement that it brings once you have achieved it. Compelling goals challenge people, they stretch out one's limits, requires the development of skills, increase of knowledge and enhancement of abilities to make the goal a reality.

For example, if you want to improve your financial situation, a great first step can be opening a savings account with a bank; however, since opening an account will just take seconds to do it just becomes an item in the to-do list, not a compelling goal. A compelling goal would be to find a side hustle that will match your monthly salary.

Another example is that of a person who wants to write and publish a book. Yes, you can setup a blog that will take only minutes to do but a compelling goal would be to finish a book after two months and start publishing 1500-2000 articles daily.

If the goal is not too compelling, not inspiring or not challenging you to go beyond, then you're going to go south with the accomplishment of your New Year's Resolutions.

Reason #5 - Lack of Action

A goal will remain to be words on paper if they are not put into action. What to do to avoid it being just mere words on paper is to ensure that your goal or resolution is crystal clear in order to turn it into a reality.

The problem with taking action though is that most people are afraid of it especially if the action required is not something one has engaged in and successfully done before. This is why an action plan is deemed important. Large goals can be broken down into smaller chunks and then you make your way into accomplishing each so progress can be made.

If you ever built a snowman before, you know that a lot of effort has to be put into it to get going. You form small snowballs first by rolling them around, this would seem to be taking forever to do and you're going nowhere with it, but in the long run, you'll notice that the ball becomes bigger and you'll be needing more snow to continue to form bigger rolls.

The same strategy is applied with our goals. You'll need to act small at first, do it consistently and you'll be building momentum. Through the actions you have taken, your knowledge and experience is widened. In time you'll see that the progress toward your goals increases as well.

Taking action should not be optional. You cannot just expect your goal to be accomplished on its own. There is no way that the law of attraction will be in effect without undertaking the necessary measures on every opportunity that is presented to you. Make sure you're doing something - whether it's big or small, do something every day. No matter how small the steps you make are, if it's going to get you closer to realizing your goals or your resolutions, then do it.

Also, be wary of engaging in the same behaviour or approach as before especially if it did not work out the first time. Go and do something unusual. Don't confine yourself in a box, get out of your comfort zone and act on the things that will make you move in the direction of the accomplishment of your goals.

That's it! Now that you understand why New Year's Resolutions fail, it's time that you incorporate the steps taught here when planning your goals. I also have a goal setting playbook you might want to check out for more help. If you already have your goals set up, just adjust it accordingly so as to include the tips we mentioned in this article.

Give your New Year's Resolutions a boost by giving it the attention it deserves. It's definitely time to say goodbye at failing at your resolutions, and hello to reaching success this year and the years to come that is beyond what you can imagine.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Not-Fail-With-Your-New-Years-Resolutions&id=9880291

New Year's Resolutions: Mistakes To Avoid + Be Successful

Most people look at the beginning of the year as a chance to change their lives,

However, I have seen that at least 50% of those who establish New Year's Resolutions or Big Goals for the New Year fail.

Reasons are that people are putting so much pressure on themselves to make New Year's Resolutions. or believe their lives will change at the stroke of midnight. Such extreme pressure sets your up for failing. Most people are in a fog from the holidays on January 1st that they don't even think about starting because they are tired or stressed.

For example, I had a client who for a couple years in a row said he was going to stop smoking for the New Year. He never did because he really felt pressure and in his heart really did not want to stop. This is so common to make such grand choices because people feel they are expected to make choices such as losing weight, stop smoking or other

habits that they really don't think about much the rest of the year.

How you can increase the likelihood of keeping a resolution or a new habit?

Whether is a New Year's Resolution or setting goals, people are more likely to success if they just take the time at the end of the year or when they are goal-setting to reflect. People should reflect on the past year or recent month to get a baseline or reference point on what they have been doing with their life and where they are at right now.

Asking 'heart-felt: questions are the key.

You must reflect before you make your choices.

1. Write down what you have done this last year.

Do these for different areas of your life such as work, relationships and self (self-care).

2. Ask yourself: What is missing in my life?

What have I not done yet?

3. Ask Yourself: What would I most likely to have in my life right now?

Image or picture what you most want in your life.

How would I feel in the next few years if I have not pursued my dreams and goals?

Don't be upset if you have negative thoughts or reactions, let 'inspirational dissatisfaction' motivate you.

The likelihood of making goals and developing a new habit are based on the questions what must be asked before goal setting. If you do not take the time to ask yourself these questions you are just shooting arrows in the dark at a target.

4. Goals:

After these questions then you are ready to make 2 to 4 goals.

Keep these tips in mind when you make your goals. To begin building new habits that support your goals or just wanting to make a change inhabits I suggest:

1. Start with small gradual moves or steps.

For example. if you want a new career or skills don't quit your job to go back full-time to school, take one course for a start and see if you like it. Break the goal down to tangible parts.

2. Break free of excuses

What may sound as valid reason for not working on your goals and new habits are really 'agony anchors' that hold you back. These are feelings of fear of change.

I hear from clients that they are 'too busy', 'I had no time this week' and other self-pity statements. This is never empowering. I have clients get a calendar or put in the cell phone calendar the day or evening they will work on their new goals and habits.

Example: If it is to go to the gym, schedule it in your calendar. Pre-plan and make this appointment with yourself. I am amazed how crowded my gym is in January and have many people stop going by Feb, because they have allowed many 'distractions" in their lives. Yes, things pop-up. If and when they do, immediately re-schedule your calendar when you will attend.

3. Don't share your goals or some of them with people who will act critical. Only tell those who will encourage and support you.

To become happier and more confident -- avoid emotional vampires. Unhappy people allow "emotional vampires" to suck their positive feelings right out of their skulls. Emotional vampires include people who put you down, criticize or mock you, or sabotage your dreams and aspirations. Never let snipers or negative people shoot holes in your boat. These types of people drain the life out of you.

Take survey of your life by making a list of people and situations you expose yourself to. Then, discard or limit people, habits or situations that keep you from feeling optimistic and happy. In other words, 'burn your bridges' if needed.

Example: I had a young client in her early 30's who wanted to train to run a half-marathon. She was very excited. She told her mother what she was planning to do and her mother looked at her and said, "you can't do that... " She was upset and learned very quickly this principle of enlisting those who are only positive and supportive.

Follow these tips and you will not only be successful in the New Year, you will feel happier and optimistic.

http://ezinearticles.com/?New-Years-Resolutions:-Mistakes-To-Avoid-+-Be-Successful&id=9842278

5 Ways to Live Your Dreams (When You’re Already Officially a Grown-Up)

What are you going to do this year? Piano? Basketball? What’s next? I was fortunate because my mom always posed this question about my dreams and aspirations as I was growing up.

One of our sons, Patrick, is in his freshman year of college. We spent the last couple of years exploring his dreams and ideas. What kind of career do you want? What problems do you want to solve? What school will give you the experience you need?

When we were younger, being asked What do you want to do next? or What do you want to be when you grow up? was a normal and natural part of life. But what if you’re already grown up?

No one has asked me those questions lately. Have you been asked?

When we become “official” grown-ups, it seems questions about our dreams and plans often stop.

If you don’t ask yourself these questions, no one will.

It’s up to you.

I often talk with my clients about how to start change at work or in life, or in my words, start a wave. A common question I am asked is What if I don’t know what my wave or direction is?

It’s OK. You aren’t alone.

Often we don’t know what we want next in our lives because we haven’t been asked or we haven’t thought about this question in a very long time.

Here are some thoughts for getting started on what is next for you, for knowing what your “wave” is and the impact you want to have in your world:

1. Forget New Year’s resolutions.

While they may have their time and place, this isn’t about what you can do better. We aren’t talking about exercising more or being more organized. We are thinking about this differently—from the outside in.

2. What impact do you want to have in your world?

Your “world” may be your family, your neighborhood, your community or the bigger world. You decide. This question isn’t self-focused, but on the outward way you want to affect others or the issues you care about.

I have met Wave Makers who started a small, local nonprofit; created a book club to help empty nesters adjust to a new chapter in life; became entrepreneurs by starting a small company on Etsy; have created large, multimillion-dollar businesses from the ground up. I’ve met business leaders who realized their most important role was developing others, and I’ve met men who banded together to help families in poverty with home repairs.

It’s not the size or scale that matters the most, but your desire to have an impact around you.

3. Dream big. Start small and start now.

This is my mantra. This combination is so powerful because if we dream big, it can feel like too much. Yet almost everything great started with a small decision or action that didn’t seem significant or courageous at the time.

In my research, changes often had simple beginnings over a cup of coffee and great conversation, trying something new to see what worked, or giving the unexpected a chance.

It’s so important to ask yourself, What can I do now? Not after you leave your current job, make more money, the kids are in school or you get out of college. This week. Today. Now.

4. Experiment and explore. 

Last week a participant approached me after a workshop. With frustration, he shared that while he had ideas for the impact he wanted to have, he was uncertain which was the right one for him and how to get started. I encouraged him to try a few things now to see what he learned and then assess where it takes him.

Try a small-scale home improvement business on the side before you leave your job in sales. Spend the day with someone in your dream job and see how it feels. Start writing a blog before you commit to a book.

I have and continue to have times of uncertainty, but experimentation can give you the confidence and assurance on where to focus.  Remember, this isn’t a test with one right answer. Try, learn and adjust your course.

5. The time will pass anyway.

I graduated from college 15 years ago—I can’t change careers now.

It’s been 10 years since I was in the workforce. I’m so behind. How can I get back in now?

If only I had realized being an architect was my dream when I started college.

Rhonda had a lifelong dream of being a pastor. But she hadn’t finished college and being a busy mom had been her career for many years. As her last child left for college, she realized her dream wasn’t going away. At 50, she went back to college to finish her undergraduate degree and her applications for seminary are next.

Two years after completing her degree, Mary realized that her successful science career hadn’t replaced her dream of being a nurse. In the midst of wedding plans and business travel, she decided it was time to course correct. She is returning to school and changing lots of plans to make it happen.

The time will pass anyway. You may as well be where you want to be as it does.

It’s OK if you aren’t sure what your dream, your wave or your next thing is. What’s important is taking the time to ask yourself the right questions and then think:

What’s the change I want to see in my life and my world?

And keep asking. Because if you don’t—no one else will.

http://www.success.com/blog/5-ways-to-live-your-dreams-when-youre-already-officially-a-grown-up

Anthony Robbins: New Year True You 2015