Dear Friends of Balancing Act,
With a brand new year right around the corner, it's the perfect time to think about what you want to focus on in 2013. And what better way than to assign a theme to the coming year? Below are some tips for figuring out yours. With your theme set, you're positioned to think about your goals. Notice I didn't say resolutions. There's a big difference. In this issue, I've included some good goal-writing reminders that will help keep them from going - poof! - like vague, wish-list resolutions do. "What are you doing New Year's Eve?" is a musical question that's been posed by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Barry Manilow. Read on for an idea that will enrich your memories of 2012 and ensure a positive end to 2013. And finally, it you're single and simply want to complicate your life in 2013, I'm offering up another idea, in my latest column. Pat
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Ta-Dah! It's The Year Of... 
A good way to achieve a sense of direction in the new year is to assign a theme to it. Ask yourself what you want in your life, what you think would take it to the next level.
For example, do you long to take better care of yourself? Deepen friendships? Simplify your life? Any one of these might be a theme.
Still struggling to know? Then maybe ask yourself if there's a piece of baggage you'd like to eliminate from your current life. Your theme, then, might be the positive opposite.
Once you've nailed your theme, then figure out what you can do to remind yourself of it so that it begins to permeate every aspect of your year.
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Now Go Set Your Goals
 Why set goals? Because they affect our performance for the better. Psychologists who study goal-setting theory say they direct our attention, energize us, make us more persistent and inspire us to find and use just the right knowledge and strategies to get us where we want to go.
How well they work, though, hinges on how they're constructed. We've all heard that goals need to be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound), but goal-setting theory provides some helpful caveats. Attainable, but not too easy or too difficult. Time-bound but realistically so. Measurable so that there's feedback and accountability on progress. Relevant and also resonant with your values.
Whether it's a coach or a friend or family member who has only your best interests (no personal agendas) at heart, engaging an accountability partner to report on each of your goals is a key part of achieving them.
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What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
At the risk of confusing New Year's Eve with Thanksgiving, how about a couple activities that focus on gratitude? Using this king of strengths that fosters positive emotion is a great way to usher in the New Year.
Looking backward, you might simply list all the people, things and happenings - big and small - that you're grateful for in 2012.
Looking forward, you can make a gratitude jar to capture your blessings during 2013. If you even drop in one a day as a regular practice during the coming year, by next New Year's Eve, you'll have - voila! - 365 to read and smile over.
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Copyright 2012 Pat Snyder
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PAT PROMOTES LAWYER MOVIE Contacted by New York City script writer Jacqueline Delibes, Pat's offering coaching to raise funds for a short humor film, "Slow Down to the Speed of Virginia," about how learning to talk southern might improve civility in the legal profession.
Wanna help, or just curious? Click here.
PAT TALKS POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY ON RADIO
Earlier this month, Pat went on the BlogTalk Radio show "Business Over Coffee" to talk about the role positive emotions can play in the lives of busy professionals, such as attorneys.
Joining her was Linda Seeley, director of private attorney involvement for Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. Host was Debra Norwood, a Memphis area attorney and a certified laughter leader.
To hear the broadcast, follow this link.
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LEASH LAW
NO. 48:
COMING CLEAN IN THE NEW YEAR
There's a reason plastic organizing boxes are on sale in January. It's therapeutic to leave the holiday season with a clean sweep, de-cluttering all the extra stuff, all the bangles and pine needles and fake snow. A fresh new year is about to begin. Rush the season with a spring wreath on the front door.
This is derived from one of 74 leash laws offered in Pat's book, The Dog Ate My Planner: Tales and Tips from an Overbooked Life.
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