Reassessment, Refocus, and Execution - Keys for Perseverance

    We are more than halfway through 2011 and I'm sure most of us have abandoned our New Year's resolutions for this year. Whether it be promising to eat healthier, exercise more, or handle our finances better (aside from the bad economy), we've decided to throw in the towel and fall off the wagon.

"It's no use!"

"I can't do it!"

"It's too hard!"

"I don't have time!"

       Let's be honest: the enemy in the inner me has told these lies to us on more than one occasion. Change is never easy. It requires sacrifice and discipline and effort and perseverance. There is no way around it. If you want to lose weight, you can't continue to eat unhealthy. If you want to be better financially, you have to stop the financial hemorrhaging. Success is achieved when you continue to do the required actions to complete a goal. But instead of beating yourself up for your shortcomings, let's look at some principles that will hopefully get you spark'd:

Reassessment. We all start off with a plan when it comes to change (or at least I hope we do.) Last year I started my weight loss journey. It began with my waking up at 5am in order to work out before work. Recently I became aware that I was more mentally alert in the morning to pursue my business endeavors. So silly me decided I'd try to go to the gym after work knowing full well that it would be a bad idea. Guess what? It was a bad idea. Now that it's summer, the thought of going to a hot gym when it's sunny outside is not motivating. And besides my body is still conditioned to wake up at 5am. So morning workouts here I come. When you realize the original plan didn't work, don't be afraid to reassess it. If all of it wasn't bad, keep what works and move on.

Refocus.  To focus means to concentrate. Our minds are constantly thinking. Now that I know evening workouts won't work for me, I need to refocus my mind for my endeavors to come to fruition. Yes, that gray matter above your shoulders needs direction. Without direction our minds tend to wander and "where the mind goes, the body will follow." This is where self talk is very important. Don't beat yourself up when you fall short. Instead refocus with the hope of doing better next time.

Execution. You can have the most grandiose plans in the world and laser-focused thoughts but without execution, those plans go nowhere. NOWHERE! A pound will not be shed. Businesses won't be birthed. Lives will not be changed. Races are not won by the participants being in stand still. The gun sounds or the flags are waved and off they go.  My 20-lb weight loss didn't start until I started going to the gym and eating healthier. Like Nike says: Just do it.

So now that you have some keys, I hope you are "spark'd" to get back on your journey to whatever goal you wish to achieve. When you hit a roadblock, rinse and repeat the process.

Happy as You Want to Be

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be ." - Abraham Lincoln

I like the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Of course being happy is a matter of choice. To be happy is relatively easy. Just choose to be.

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.

Happiness is actually found in everyone. Increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.

You can do this several ways:
 
Be grateful. We have so much to be thankful for and yet take so much for granted. Every day above ground is a good day. Are you still alive? Be thankful. Even if your body is wracked with pain, your financial outlook is dim, or you are alone, be grateful.

Religious connection. Belonging to a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace as well as provide a different outlook for some situations. Maybe your outlook was negative in the beginning. Your time in the presence of the Creator can change that.

Have a good laugh everyday. I prefer to watch comedies more so than dramas. Why? Because I like a good laugh. Especially the ones where my jaw hurt or I sense the oxygen leaving my brain. There is nothing like a laugh that eases tension.
 
Express yourself. Don't be afraid to express affections, friendship, and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Don't hold onto toxic emotions like hate, anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.

Exercise. Just like milk, it does a body good. Do what works for you. I like to walk on the treadmill at the gym. Someone else may enjoy hiking or gardening. The objective is to move the body and feel alive.

Now that you know you have the choice to be happy, what will your choice be?