Actually, how about “Absolutely, Yes.”

Think of it this way. If you can commit to making it through a month or two doing something to improve your life, why not? As we know, studies show fulfilling a resolution for an entire year is rarely achieved. An entire year is definitely a big commitment.

However…if you pick one or two goals and achieve those goals through, say, the end of February, you’ve lived a better life for 1/6 of your year! Sounds a bit less daunting now, right? 16.67% of your year gets you through February. Easy.

So, pick two goals, start today, give yourself some grace and see what happens.

As they say, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” This is true.

Just as true, “The journey of a thousand steps begins with the first one.”

Here’s five suggestions:

Liquid Skittles
Commit to cutting out soft drinks. Switch to tea if you need the caffeine. It’s much, much healthier. Face it, soft drinks are poison. Our bodies are simply not made to consistently process that much sugar (about 40 grams per serving) in one beverage. So, begin weaning yourself off of your soft drink habit.

If you start backsliding in February, don’t beat yourself up. Hey, you just treated your body to a soft drink purge for 30 straight days. Well done. Now, just recommit and go the next 30 days.

Break the Routine
Commit to a date night with your significant other two or three times a month.

Here’s the kicker. It has to be outside of the house. And…you have to leave your cell phones at home. Or, at the least, have a “cell phones down” commitment during that time together.

Also, try and do something more than just grabbing dinner and racing back home. There’s a million-and-one things to do and sites to see. If you live in a less populated area with less “attractions,” then schedule a walk around a lake or a park. So easy.

Reading. It Does the Body (and the Mind) Good.
Commit to reading something elevating and inspirational. I get it. Some people aren’t readers. I truly feel that. However, one book over two months is not going to kill you.

As the late Charlie “Tremendous” Jones said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.”

**Important: Choose something that elevates your mind and your spirit. What does that mean? I mean something that expands your perspective, builds character, and inspires you to fulfill your potential.

If Stephen King or the latest John Grisham is all you tend to read, ok. At the very least, any reading helps us build our empathy towards others—not an insignificant benefit. That said, try and take a break from the best-selling fiction rack.

Aim to dine on something weightier. Something that challenges you. Don’t mistake density or difficulty for wisdom. It doesn’t have to be Ulysses, and any third grader can read Proverbs and glean meaning from it. Just read something that will more deeply heighten your awareness and inspire you. 

Reruns
Commit to cutting way back on TV consumption. It’s really easy to decompress watching a little TV after a long day at work. Again, I get it. No one ever died from a little junk food for the brain.

But, if zoning out watching a Forensic Files episode turns into watching three (or four) episodes in a row, it’s time to adjust your decompress from work routine. Or, for that matter, reconsider what it is you’re doing for work in the first place, but we’ll tackle that another day.

Model the Way
Commit to mentoring someone, somewhere in some way. Our world is in dire need of more and better mentors.

Help someone else benefit from your experience and wisdom. Help a recent graduate see around a few of life’s corners. Help a job seeker brush up on her interviewing skills. Help a co-worker navigate his next career steps.

Whomever you choose to mentor, do it consistently. You’re certainly not meeting every day. However, you are consistently present in that person’s life, helping them along their way.

Monday, Wednesday or Friday. 1st, 5th or 25…
**By the way, this is purposefully posted on January 5. I want to reinforce that you can start improving your life whenever you choose.

How many people made a resolution on December 29 or 30 to cut out chocolate, run two miles a day or give up smoking?

Now, it’s five days into the new year. They’ve already taken down a king size Snickers, missed three days of exercise and bought their first pack of cigarettes this morning on the way to work.

A starting point is just that–it doesn’t have to be January 1. It can be a Monday or a Friday, the 1st or the 25th, January or July.

Give yourself some grace if you hit a pothole, just keep the ball rolling. Make 2015 the year you begin to–truly–fulfill your potential in this short, short life.

Please drop us a line at hell0@strengthslauncher.com if this little article has spurred you on to something bigger and better.

We’d love to hear from you!

Cheers,

DW