How are those New Year's Resolutions going? If you've made some that you're sticking to, that's great! Keep it up. Most of us, however, start the year with great intentions and then reality happens - we go back to work, school, etc. and we end up relapsing into old habits.

Why is it so hard to stick to those New Year's resolutions? Mostly because goals like "I want to get healthy" or "I will pay off all my credit card debt" can be so large that they start feeling too complex...too daunting. As time passes, we feel that we won't be able to handle them, so we procrastinate or completely forget about them.

Are you ready to learn how you can make those resolutions stick? It's very simple. The secret is to set an intention for a greater goal but start with small steps that you can accomplish. You will not get to the top of a ladder by taking one gigantic step. You have to climb a ladder one rung at a time. The only way to change your life is to change your daily routine one small step at a time.

Here's how you can set yourself up for success and turn your good intentions to reality:

1. Start with the end in mind.  
   1. What is one thing that you desire to get done by the end of the year? What do you want your life to look like on December 31st, 2014?
   2. Write down your intention and keep it somewhere where it's visible to you. You can tape it to your fridge or place it above your desk
   3. Attach a reason to your intention - it has to be a reason that will keep you interested, inspired and engaged. For example, you want to be pain-free so you can pursue your dream job or enjoy playing with your kids
   4. Visualize what you / your life would look. Imagine what it would feel like to succeed. Feel how delighted you are to be told by your doctor that you can reduce the meds you're taking. Feel how proud you are to be taking long walks unassisted. Feel how much fun you're having on your family vacation.
2. Chunk down your big intention into smaller, more manageable steps:
1. Start out slowly, commit to one change that you know you can make before introducing any others. For example, you intend to become healthier. You may simply start by adding a healthy ingredient to your meals or decide to visit the farmer's market and pick up a vegetable that you will add to your dinner. The following week you may try another one or two vegetables. 
2. Once you have mastered that and it has become a part of your weekly or daily routine, you can choose another goal such as drinking a green juice once a week or adding one large salad into your day. 
3. You can go as big or as small as you want but, at least, you're still moving towards meeting your intention
3. Reward yourself with every little accomplishment. If your intention is to get healthier and you notice that your inflammation is subsiding, pamper yourself with a massage. Celebrate your achievement!
4. Keep your focus on the big picture. Setbacks are inevitable, but don't let them discourage you from getting back on track and pursuing what you intentionally set out to do. It's also important to remember not to judge yourself for falling off track, just brush it off and keep on going

The key to success is small consistent action that gets you to where you want to be. If you try to make too many changes at once, you are likely to feel overwhelmed and return to your old ways.

My intention this year is to slow down and create more space in my life to focus on the things that are most important to me - the big rocks! In 2013, I packed my schedule so tight, that I drove myself to burn out and that showed up in my health. So, I may have two or three goals in mind but the only way to achieve them is to focus on the one intention I have and that is to reduce my load by taking on less to-dos, saying "no" more often, prioritizing the things that make me happy and getting support.

What's your intention for 2014?

Do you intend to be pain or inflammation-free, become healthy and feel fantastic? Make a plan to succeed by getting the support you need! As a Health Coach, I specialize in helping people make their own healthy changes. If you are ready to get started, schedule an initial consultation with me today - or pass this e-mail on to someone you care about!

You can also sign up for my FREE webinar on Tuesday, January 28th at 8.00 p.m. EST / 5.00 p.m. PST, where I will share with you important information on 'What Triggers Your Flares'. The goal of this FREE webinar is to help you make better choices that strengthen your immune system by allowing you to identify those factors that cause it to be weak. 

To find out more details or to register, send me an e-mail to rana@live-healthfully.com. When you sign up to the webinar you will receive my full list of tips on how to manage a flare up as well as hand-outs on factors that trigger flares.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy 2014,

Rana Ghaoui

Live HEALthfully