As we turn the page to a new calendar year many of us are determined to do things differently this year. So the theme this month is Resolve and Act!

                     Enjoy ~ Sharon

Happy New Year! These early days of January have become the season of resolutions. It is a time for breaking bad habits and attempting to live in new ways. Whether the goal is to get organized or save money or pray regularly, the more specific the goal, the more likely it is that we will accomplish it. 

Being specific entails clearly defining a quantitative bench mark and setting a time line. For example, if getting organized is the general goal, a specific goal might be something like this: 'I will completely re-organize the hallway closet by the end of the day on Friday.' Or, if the general goal is to pray regularly, a specific goal might be something like this: 'I will pray for 15 minutes, each day this week, right after breakfast.'

But, no matter how specific the goal, it will be difficult to achieve it without a strategy to support the habit change. 'How will I achieve this goal?' is the question that needs to be addressed. Engaging this gets at the core of re-designing our lives. An honest and fruitful answer will need to consider issues of motivation, willingness to abandon present practices, and a plan to live life differently. If we really, REALLY want to make our resolutions reflect a transformational experience of habit change, we must face into the question: 

HOW?

• What is the habit change you would like to make in your life?
• What is your motivation?
• What is the specific goal?
• How will you accomplish your goal?