What Are You Waiting For?

The New Year is just around the corner.   Now is a great time to celebrate what you have accomplished this year and assess what can be done to make next year a better year.  How many New Year’s resolutions dropped off your radar by January 15^th?  How many of them never even made it past day one?  How would it feel to never have to make another resolution ever again?

Though, resolutions may seem like a great idea, statistics show that nearly 95% of people fail to keep them each year.  Stop being a part of the statistic!  The good news is, you don’t have to wait until the New Year and you don’t need a resolution.  What you need is a plan.  You’ve got to have a plan!  It was Benjamin Franklin who wisely reminded us, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”  The key is setting practical, realistic and obtainable goals that will lead you toward the “New You” you’re desiring to become.  Here are three easy steps to help you see a “Healthier New You!”

• Step One - Decide Upon Your Goal

Decide upon your ultimate goal and realistically how long you want to take to obtain it.  Be totally honest with yourself about how much you really desire to meet this goal. You will need to take into account several things that you’ll need to accomplish your goal, such as:

• The amount of time you are able to set aside and when (before/after work, weekdays/weekends),
• The amount of effort it will take (physically, mentally, financially, emotionally),
• Who will be a part of your support team (friends, family, coach, trainer), as well as
• The reason you want to accomplish this goal (well-being, quality of life, look/feel better).

 

• Step Two - Put Your Plan In Place

If your goal has made it through Step One, now you can make a plan of action and put it into place.  Evaluate what you will need to do on a monthly, weekly and daily basis to meet your goal within your allotted time frame.  Outline your complete plan but fully complete a plan for Month 1.  Yes, one month. If there are tools already created that can assist you, by all means, use them! You don’t have to reinvent the wheel!

For instance - If your goal is to lose 50 pounds in ten months, outline your plan for the ten month period.  Then, for short-term goals, break your ten month plan down a month at a time.  Your short-term goal might be to lose 5 pounds a month.  This equates to about 1.25 pounds a week.  Your plan should include daily and weekly tasks that point you toward your five-pound a month goal.  If you have access to pre-planned meals, or recipes, use them.  If you follow your plan consistently, you will ultimately, reach your 50 pound goal.

Don’t beat yourself up if things didn’t go as intended.  If this is something you really want, the secret is to never give up!  You are right where you were meant to be! Also, remember to reward yourself for your accomplishments.  Don’t down play small steps, nothing is insignificant.   Celebrate the small victories!

• Step Three - Evaluate and Adjust

Each month, take the time to evaluate how well or how poorly you may have done.  Then adjust your plan accordingly for the following month.   If you are struggling in an area of your plan, be sure and make the necessary adjustments.  Evaluate if that portion of your plan can be modified, replaced or totally eliminated.  On the flip side, if part of your plan is working well, you might consider ramping it up a bit next month!  There’s a saying, “It’ll work if your work it!”  Work your plan!   Keep working it and working on it until you accomplish your goal.

Decide your goal.  Put your plan in place.  Evaluate and adjust as needed.  If you want a “Healthier New You” without all the hassle and guilt of unrealized New Year’s resolutions, you’ve got to do things differently!  With these steps, you won’t have the cloud of a failed New Year’s resolution hanging over your head to make you feel guilty.  In fact, you’ll more than likely find yourself smiling quite a bit as your progress becomes more and more evident.  These 3 easy steps will have you celebrating the New Year all year long!

                                      Happy New Year - Healthy New You! 

                 Dr. Ollie Anderson CPC, ELI-MP, AUTHORCHRISTIAN COUNSELOR

Put Chivalry Back to Work!

It appears that chivalry is no longer working.  It seems to be on holiday and in some places, on life support or maybe, even dead!  As we celebrate the Labor Day weekend, I am adamant about putting chivalry back to work!

Labor Day is a holiday that was created as a result of a labor movement in 1885.  By 1894 it was adopted as law and legislated as a national holiday.  The purpose of Labor Day is to celebrate social and economic accomplishments of American workers who contribute to this nation by supporting its economic growth.  The holiday commemorates the advancement of our country's pride, power and prosperity.  

I would have to say, though we have grown leaps and bounds in so many areas, we seemed to have regressed in so many others.   We seem to have gotten so caught up in prospering economically that we have lost some of the simple things that make life meaningful.  Social justice, race relations, financial equality are ideals that have proven to be major setbacks but for me, another of those ideals is chivalry.

 

Though it may not seem important to many, it is of grave importance to me.  It speaks to how, as a people, we have lost a basic caring for one another.  There is a difference in caring about me and caring for me.  Caring about me is comparable to having empathy, a minimal amount of thought and feeling might accompany it, but it requires no further action.  However, caring for me necessitates action.  Caring for me requires you not only understand how I feel but your compassion moves you to concern and accountability.

I know you may think this a bit heavy for the topic of chivalry, conversely, I think it may not be heavy enough.  I consider chivalry to be a lost art that is sorely missed.  Chivalry is simply having courage, honor, loyalty, respect and consideration for others.  My dad used to say, “When respect is gone, you don’t have to worry, love had already gotten its coat and hat and left!” 

My Godson posted this quote as a Feminist Philosophy Lesson on his Facebook page: "The door-opening and similar services provided are services which really are needed by people who are for one reason or another incapacitated-unwell, burdened with parcels, etc. So the message is that women are incapable". -Marilyn Frye.  I don’t know about other women but this was an insult to me.  I love and appreciate having my door opened by a gentleman.  It is not a sign that I am weak nor incapable.  It is a symbol that the gentleman thinks I am important enough for him to show his consideration toward me and open my door!

So, men as you celebrate this Labor Day, put chivalry back to work.  Demonstration your courage by caring for a woman.  Show that not only is chivalry not dead, but it’s reentering the work force!