It's Time to Take Control

It's that time of year - we make our New Year's Resolutions and by this time next month they will be all but by the wayside. According to Miriam/Webster's Dictionary, the practice of making New Year's Resolutions for so many years (hundreds) that they don't really know when the practice began. They mention a writer in 1671 writing a commitment not to offend anyone in the New Year. By the 19th century though it was common practice to make and break New Year's Resolutions.

There are so many reasons why we fail at keeping our resolutions. We make them too grandiose; we make them too hard; we copy what someone else wants to do; we make them halfheartedly; and we focus on the negative and not the positive.

We set ourselves up for failure when we do that. It's hard to change years/decades' worth of habits all of a sudden. I learned long ago that it's much easier to make small positive changes, and to build from that. It's easier to look at what is right in my life, and commit to doing more of that.

No matter what resolution we make, it's all about being in control. Be in control of who you are, how you behave, and what you do. It's about personal responsibility. Take responsibility for your life, and be in control. Don't become a victim of circumstance. Don't let anything have power over you - whether it's a piece of cake or a hard to deal with coworker.

Decide that in 2017 you are going to be the best version of yourself, and the master of your destiny. The decisions are yours to make. You can do it! We can do it!!!