Saturday, January 1, 2011

Be Positive in 2011



Prior to the start of a new year, many of us feel the burden that comes with it… You know the one.
New Year’s resolutions.  
What should be a celebration, New Years tends to be another holiday with a price tag…one called guilt.
As the high of Thanksgiving and Christmas comes to an abrupt end, we suddenly feel forced to review the ugly list of things we shouldn’t do anymore. Those things we should fix, or the list of stuff we need to change. YUCK!! Who wants that to look forward to that!!!???
While 2010 did seem to be one of my most difficult years to get through because I was challenged on such a deep personal and professional level, and was not always at my best, I’m determined not to beat myself up over it. In the end, it all worked out. I acknowledged a need to make adjustments and made them. Overall, it was my positive actions that helped me make the changes.
Don’t take this the wrong way; we all need to grow and change. And, as many of you know, I am one of the biggest self-help junkies, but as humans, sometimes the brain likes to focus too much on the bad, and we actually need to focus more on the good, because isn’t that what we want more of? It’s so easy to nag ourselves about what we’ve done wrong. We can be so quick to blame ourselves and tear ourselves down, creating a list of bad things about the past year.
If you’re like me, and you make the ‘notorious’ list every January 1st, and by February 1st begin losing momentum because you just can’t keep up, don’t stress.  You can quit smoking, start dieting, and find more faith any day of the year. You have the power and the freedom to change yourself and your life, anytime. And if you must write a list, make it a small one and call it goals. Then tuck it away for another day.
 It’s better sometimes to celebrate the good first , then work on improving the bad. It’s like that old saying, ‘pay yourself first’.
This New Year’s, pay yourself first with compliments and positive reinforcement. You are strong and will survive. The bad will take care of itself when you just focus on the good.
This year I am starting 2011 with positive energy, and instead of focusing on what I need to change, what didn’t work and what was wrong with 2010, I want to focus on what I did right and what worked for me!
Because, after all, isn’t it the positive we want more of? Isn’t it the positive that actually helped me through the negative? I believe it is...
Here is  my list of what worked in 2010: (please feel free to share yours with me)
Believing in myself
Trusting
Listening to good advice, Facing my fears and getting an attorney, going to trial for my children (and yes, all in that order)
Having Faith
Praying often
Having an attitude of gratitude
Not over scheduling myself (and yes, that meant saying no when I wanted to say yes)
Having a sense of humor
Camping (despite the rain)
Asking for help
Standing up for what I need
Letting go of what I cannot control
Using more patience
WOW!!  What an amazing list to reflect on! Not only do I feel good about the choices I’ve made, but I can use a lot of these again in 2011!!!
What a great way to begin the new year! With positive thoughts! It can only get better if we focus on what we want more of and the things that are positive!
Make 1/1/11 a day you begin with positive thoughts and energy and let it carry you through the entire year!
Don’t focus on what you haven’t done, don’t  want or don’t have. Just focus on what you did right and what worked J and the rest will all come together.
Now take a few minutes to make your list of changes or accomplishments that you can celebrate, then pat yourself on the back while we welcome 2011!

You will feel much better, I promise.
Happy New Year!
J 
Truly,
Amber