I don't believe in the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks". You can always, no matter your age, change and improve. Introspection, examination of conciensce, a look at where your life is now and where you want it to be is always a good thing. We have to be open and honest with ourselves and with those around us. We have to hear what others are saying and say what we need to say.
My resolution is simple. More Jesus and less Pam. I want to pray more, read the gospels and just be in His presence more. That is where true unconditional love is. That is where peace and joy are.
What are your resolutions? Are you prepared for making a change? Change is hard, habits are easy. You will fall. We all do. The key is to get back up and start again. That is where the hard part comes in. It hurts to fall both mentally and sometimes physically. To get back up and start again when there is a possibility of falling again...that is where we decide to make this change or give up. That is where the "rubber hits the road" so to speak.
To make a change, a serious change. We need to set S.M.A.R.T. goals.
Specific - I will exercise 3x a week. Instead I will exercise more.
Measurable - 3x a week.
Attainable - I will lose 1lb a week. Something you can reach for and be successful at.
Realistic - I will lose 1lb a week, instead of I will lose 50lbs in 8wks.
Time-based - Something not open ended. In one week I will have lost 1lb. Then another week.
We also have to give ourselves room to fail. Ok I didn't lose 1lb this week, I fell off the wagon. Let me get back on a start again. Relish the small victories. I lost 3lbs overall and I gained 1lb. That is a net gain of 2lbs. Or I did my walks everyday and I feel really good. Who cares if the scale didn't move this time. Let me look at the other factors(diet, hormones etc..) and see what I can adjust.
So my SMART goal;
Specific - I will read one Chapter of John every week. Then Mark, Matthew, Luke and Acts.
Measurable - 1 Ch every week, My weeks will run Sun. to Sat.
Attainable - I should be able to eek out sometime to read one chapter during the week.
Realistic - I have a bible, I have time(like instead of facebooking I can read first)
Time-based- So every Sunday I will asses whether I read my chapter the following week and reasses or start over.
As we begin 2014, I pray that each of you find peace, love and joy. I pray that this year brings health to those struggling, brings peace to those conflicted, brings joy to those saddened, and love to the world around us. God Bless you and your families.
