Thirty Days

"I have never heard anything about the resolutions of the apostles, but a good deal about their acts." -Og Mandino

Here are the top ten resolutions made by people each and every year around the world. Not a very surprising list because it covers areas we could all work a little bit on.

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends
2. Fit in Fitness
3. Tame the Bulge
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy Life More
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get Out of Debt
8. Learn Something New
9. Help Others
10. Get Organized

You have probably selected one, two or more of these resolutions to work on this year. But what I want you to do is stop for just a moment and think about those New Year's resolutions made on December 31st.

Get off the treadmill at the gym. Walk into another room away from your family and friends. Have that one last cigarette and you might as well spend what is left in your wallet. Go ahead and get it out of your system today.

You may wonder why I am telling you to stop working on your resolutions? I am sure it sounds negative for me to be discouraging you at this very moment.

Thirty Days

According to many different surveys, there will be roughly 60 percent of us still going strong with our New Year's resolutions by the end of January. That number will drop to under 50 percent by the month of July. The smoking huts will be lonely this first month or two. Fitness gyms will be teaming over with people and the drinking establishments a little less crowded.

What researchers do know is that your odds of making it to July or the entire year improve simply by getting past the first thirty days. Yes, only thirty days to lose your will and desire to accomplish something great. But make it past that first month and you will have made a huge step forward.

So your target should not be December 31st.

Your target should be January 31st.

Those thirty days should be your goal. Get past those first thirty days and then set another mark for the end of February...only twenty-eight days, very achievable. Pretty soon you will find yourself in July and seeing the year half over.

Do not allow your New Year's resolutions to live for only thirty days. Give those resolutions thirty days to grow and change your life. The rest of the year will come along and if you push yourself to thirty days, life will change. Your acts will overcome your intentions and change your life forever.

Stay inspired my friends.

Six is not Evil

"Seeing within changes one's outer vision." -Joseph Chilton Pearce

Wow, wasn't that another amazing Christmas Day celebration? It was full of family, friends, presents and eating; lots of eating. Hopefully you received that one special gift and more importantly, you gave someone that one special gift. Yet the day is over and the wrapping paper is bundled in trash bags awaiting the garbage man.

We have also fallen into that time period at the end of a year I call the quiet period. A time when the year is not quite over and not much more can be accomplished. Many people have taken time off and others are left working; seemingly there to only keep the office from burning down. A lull in what was a busy and full year.

It also becomes a time when we truly find moments to reflect on the year gone by. The New Year's resolutions made nearly 365 days ago are either distant memories or marked accomplishments on our goal list. Some may still be working on them, which is a good thing and please continue with them into the newest year arriving.

This time of year is also a good time to reflect on how we have lived our lives over the past year. Have we tried to be a good and decent person? Have we been loving and true to our family and friends? Have we treated everyone including strangers as we would want to be treated?

What I suggest during this quiet period is to take these next six days and make a list of six things you would like to improve upon next year. And do not think the number six to be evil, it is just a number. It is simply the number of days left to prepare yourself for the new coming year.

Take those six days and look for the good in a number such as six. Six days and you will also find there is goodness in other people. Six days to prepare yourself for the coming year. Six days to become a better person to others.

Stay inspired my friends.