So you want to be happy? Or maybe just “happier”! Maybe you want to stop smoking, exercise more, lose weight, or eat healthier. I know I’d like to improve in some areas of my life, like exercise more regularly and eat healthier. Statistically speaking, every year, 30 percent of the people in The United States make a single resolution, the other 70 percent make three or more. Increasing exercise is the most common, made by 37 percent. Decreasing the consumption of unhealthy food is at 13 percent and quitting tobacco is at 7 percent. Whether your resolutions are at New Years’ time or any other time, to be successful at achieving your goals next time, may I suggest you consider the following! VisionPicture yourself in your preferred future, as you want to be. Progress is a result of a creative relationship between the present-you and the future-you. Crystal-clear vision leads to extraordinary breakthroughs. FocusFocusing on your weaknesses is a waste of time and opportunity. Highly successful people throughout history have achieved greatness by focusing on their areas of strength. HabitsProgress is not a result of more discipline, but rather of developing goal-directed habits. It takes roughly 21 days of daily repetition to establish a new habit. In general you can usually develop only one habit at a time. So, in a year you could potentially develop 17 new, productive habits! AttitudeYour behavior, decisions, actions, and your results are based on your attitude. When you feel strong, confident, and competent, you will act that way. I know that when I feel tired, depressed, or weak, my behavior mirrors my feelings. By changing the way you think to yourself, you can manage your feelings therefore your behavior. BalanceSet and pursue goals in the value centers of your life: family life, physical well being, spiritual and intellectual growth, social involvement and financial health. The balance will increase your energy, motivation, and your sense of satisfaction, in other words your happiness.

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