Keep it Small & You Will Shine

It's that time again - New Year's Eve.  It's a time when we sit back and say "I need to change something"; "I need do something about ......"; "I really should......." etc.

I know that you're thinking about changes for the new year because I am too! Changes that will have a positive impact on your life and ultimately, make you feel better, healthier, and happier.  Yes, I want to make those changes and so do you.

The question is how do we make our changes last longer than a day, a week or a month?  How do we make it a true "lifestyle" change?  One that will have impact and we'll be able to actually celebrate?

Here Are the 3 K.I.S. Tips for Success:

Keep Your Changes Small - smaller - smallest

I want to lead a more active life - yes, I do.  But just saying that makes me feel a little stressed.  What does that mean?  How will I measure my success?

In order to succeed, I'm going to make my target small - smaller - smallest:

• I will take a leisurely walk on three mornings each week; or
• I will choose one night a week and make it a tv-free night; or
• I will commit to having a meat-free meal once a week; or
• I will choose to set the table and eat a proper sit-down meal at least one night each week; or
• I will only eat potato chips on Saturday nights while I'm watching the hockey game!

Now I can celebrate my accomplishments.  Much nicer than feeling horrible that I haven't accomplished this huge, unmanageable goal and then quitting.

Tell Your Truth

Stop lying to yourself!  Be honest and tell yourself the truth about what you will and won't do.

I did this exercise and now I'm completely comfortable knowing that I will never set foot in a gym - yuck; I will never completely stop eating junk food but I can accept only eating chips on Saturday.  What a treat to look forward to!

Be crazy honest with yourself.  If you want to change something about your life, what are you willing to do and what aren't you prepared to do.

Now, breathe a sigh of relief because you are on your way to success, honestly!

Allow Flexibility

Be flexible!  Flexibility lets you bend a little.  When you are flexible and you can bend, you won't snap and break your promise to yourself.

Let's say I wake-up on one of my leisurely walk days and it's raining cats and dogs.  I have two choices:

1. go out in the rain, get soaked and cold, be miserable, not joyous and feeling good about myself; or
2. Choose Flexibility - I will stay home today and walk tomorrow and I'm okay with my choice.

Choosing to be flexible will inspire me to keep going.  

Think about your goal 

Make it small - smaller - smallest

Tell Yourself the Truth 

Be flexible - bending so you won't break

You've got this!  

Happy New Year.

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people discover and live their ideal life through NLP, Mindfulness, and G.R.A.C.E.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

Dreaming, Planning and Doing

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”  Gloria Steinem

Just a few hours to go and I'm so excited! 

2014 is the year I set my dream in motion and make it my new, amazing reality!  My visualizations are popping with colour and sound and textures and motions.  They are a whirlwind of activity.

What am I up to you ask?

Living in a small, quaint village in France for 6 months every year.  I want to successfully rent a small cottage and write, relax, enjoy good food and learn every nuance of French language and culture.

My success will depend on planning through goal setting.

Let my journey begin!

What dream to you want to make reality through planning and doing?

Happy New Year, Susan

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

It's been awhile since my last post - I broke my wrist and hand in 2 places while enjoying the amazing beauty of Cape Breton island.  The wrist has not healed very well and it is still difficult to type but I miss writing in my blog and I had a plan for expanding into guest blogging that will happen in 2014.

As I reflect on 2013, I realize I have so much to be grateful for and welcome the new year with a sense of curiosity and excited anticipation.  Did I make mistakes?  You betcha!  I didn't focus on what went wrong but on what I learned and how I can improve based on what I learned.

I spent time celebrating my accomplishments, reaching my goals, reviewing my mistakes, and generally, enjoying each and every day and the experience that came with it.

As you review 2013, ask yourself these questions:

1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?
2. What are you most proud of?
3. Did you learn from your mistakes?
4. Did you adopt an attitude of success and gratitude?
5. What did you do to celebrate and recognize your accomplishments?
6. What great things do you have planned for 2014?

Start 2014 with a flourish, change your attitude and put these simple strategies to work every day:

• Practice positivity and gratitude.  
• Wake up and embrace the new day.  
• Sit back at night and celebrate your accomplishments.  
• Have real conversations and smile frequently.  
• Laugh and share laughter.  
• Encourage your inner child to come out and play.  
• Choose adventure and wonder at the world around you.

I'm looking forward to getting back to writing and finishing my e-book in 2014.

Have a wonderful holiday season!  Resolve to embrace change.