New Year's Resolution - Creating the Life We Envision

New Years is the perfect time to make changes in our lives since change is in everyone's consciousness. One of the best ways we can create the life we envision for ourselves is by writing. There is empirical evidence that shows we can improve our well-being, optimism, and enjoyment of life by beginning a "Best Possible Selves Diary."

The practice of writing has an extraordinary effect upon our consciousness. When our mind is calm, our creativity is high and we can access our higher mental faculties. This is the perfect mental state to create our future built upon positive expectations.

To begin the practice of writing in a journal, simply find a place to sit that feels peaceful and relaxing. Without over analyzing our thoughts, practice visualizing and believing the best possible outcome for this year. Then write from a positive perspective with the feeling of great expectation. The power of this exercise comes from allowing ourselves to believe and feel like our best possible self has already created what we want.

Keeping a journal of our best possible self can help overcome life's daily challenges. If we fall back into our old habits and behaviors, we can always re-visit our journal and know what we visualized and wrote about is still possible. All we have to do is accept that we have the power to choose our reality, develop the habits that will ensure our success, and allow ourselves to succeed.

Tips for a Happy Holiday

The holiday season can be a time of great joy and celebration, yet it can also be a time of great stress. During this time of year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and out of balance at work and home. What’s missing is our ability to be at peace with ourselves, and as a result our relationships can suffer. To reduce stress and make this time of year more enjoyable for everyone, here are some tips which will help add joy to this special time of year.


• Eliminate Negative Habits
Everyone is busy this time of year, some are even frantic, yet many people don’t recognize how their habits actually increase their frustration and rob them of their productive time. If we feel overburdened, perhaps it’s time to give our mind a rest from stress and focus on the positive aspects throughout each day. By training our mind to let go of limiting thoughts and negative emotions, we free ourselves from the burden of repetitive negativity. When we develop the habit of working from a positive perspective, we reduce our stress, feel happier, and improve our health.


• Share Words of Encouragement
When people are overly stressed, a few well-timed words of encouragement can be a welcomed gift. Being a positive influence can help people to remain calm, collaborate effectively, and make the season more enjoyable. When we naturally share words of encouragement, the impact upon people’s lives is immeasurable.


• Reduce Interruptions
Although we cannot eliminate interruptions, we can learn how to respond to changing circumstances and make the most out of our busy periods this season. I know an engineer that honors his need to have a quiet place to concentrate. Sometimes he reserves a small conference room when one is available. His coworkers assume he's at a meeting, but actually he's reducing his interruptions, doing some of his best work, and getting projects done on time. Giving ourselves quiet time to focus when we are at our peak performance can be one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves.


• Be Patient
Even small problems can become exaggerated. Being calm when others are anxious directly reduces tension and improves the quality of our relationships. Being patient allows us to see the big picture and make positive contributions from a calm center. Developing patience helps reduce our stress and is a value to everyone we encounter.


• Celebrate Success
This is a great time of year to celebrate our successes—that is, everyone’s successes. Find out what’s new in people’s lives and join in the celebration. When we enthusiastically share in the joy of celebration, we strengthen the connection we have with others and gain a greater appreciation of the many blessings in our own life.


The holiday season is the perfect time to be at peace with ourselves and grateful for all we have, as well as the opportunities we have to help others and improve the world in which we live.