The band plays Auld Lang Syne, the celebration takes place in Times Square, you have a great dinner with champagne, you kiss your partner and welcome the new year, and you are ready to live your dreams in 2006. Will 2006 really be a good year? The truth is that a year is not good or bad. Its just a year with twelve months filled with 365, twenty four hour days. It does not say, I am ready to make you happy, healthy, successful, or wealthy, It does not help you create harmony and live your dreams. Even though the new year will present you with great opportunities, ninety percent of you will find that nothing will change. Most of you will actually forget about your New Year's resolutions within the first few days of the new year. Don't be discouraged. This new year will not catch you by surprise. You are excited and confident because you have a plan right now. You know what you want and you intend to make it happen during the next twelve months. You have action steps in place for your family, your business, your health, your finances, your fun times. That sounds good, doesn't it? But how do we change old habits? Its not as difficult as you might think. First: Use positive self talk. "Of course I can." "There's no time like now." "I'm in charge of me, not my habits." This thinking will help you move past your perceived obstacles. Second: Create a clear habit changing goal. Think about the benefits your new habit will help you create. Third: Reward yourself. When you realize your new habit is working, celebrate, pat yourself on the back, smile. Your positive attitude will make your new habit permanent. Fourth: Keep on keeping on and you'll awaken one fine morning living the life of your dreams. Yes, you will succeed because you are inspired. You have taken the time to plan from the end. You can see your vision clearly in every detail. You are thinking green lights all the way to your goals. In the words of Emerson, "You become what you think about all day long." 2006 is no longer just twelve months with 365 days. It's your year and you are beginning right now to live your dreams. "Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It's our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit'. --Mary Lou Retton Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas Edison |