2011 - The Year of Change?

We all say that, with the start of the new year we are going to make changes to our lives. Studies have shows that most resolutions that we make last less than 2 weeks, and we're back to business as usual. The more people I talk to, I get the feeling that this is a thing of the past.

Over the holidays, I for one, along with many people I know, had a tough going and weren't in the holiday spirit. Having had a rough year, many people vowed never to be in that situation again. People are figuring out why they had such a bad time in 2010 and are, 9 days in to it, still making the changes they need to in order to make 2011 successful.

Little things that you do in your life can make a huge difference. For example, writing blog entries or writing down your thoughts/frustrations in a journal can make room for the more productive thoughts in your mind. Making a change in your diet or adding exercise to your weekly routine can make a difference in your mental state as well; I know that I think much more clearly after a trip to the gym. If you are fortunate enough to be able to take a (much needed) vacation for a couple of days if for nothing else than to clear your mind, do it. Keep in mind that you don't need to go somewhere where the hustle and bustle of the city will consume you; make that choice wisely.

Perhaps the simplest thing that a person can do to make a difference is to change their way of thinking. If you're constantly thinking that you're going to have a horrible day and that nothing will change - guess what, it's going to be exactly that. You have to manifest what you want and how you see things going for you. A dear, dear friend of mine declared that this is the year of "doin' me", and I couldn't agree more. There are enough things in this world that are going to make life hard on people. If you wake up one morning and decide that this is the day things are going to be different, I firmly believe that is the exact moment that things will turn around for you. We are all going to have bad days where you think that things couldn't get any worse, there isn't much we can do about that. We do, however, have the power to change the things we can control.

Before you can make a difference in the lives of those around you, you must first be able to make a difference in your own life.

Go out and live like you have never lived before. Make 2011 the year of "doin' you".