You're going to like this...

Did you make any New Years resolutions? If you did...good luck with that. If you didn't, I have a better idea.

This idea comes from Stephen Shapiro the author of Goal Free Living. Instead of making resolutions that you most likely won't keep (92% of us say we don't), consider making a 'theme' for the year.

It seems that for most of us when we set resolutions or goals and focus on them, we actually are more likely to fail. Weird, huh? Stephen backs up that claim with research. If your goal is to lose 20 lbs, the odds are that you will be so focused on food that all you concentrate on is denial. Denial is not a fun concept in my books. So what is the alternative?

Make a yearly theme

Let me explain. Themes are general and not specific as are goals and resolutions. Instead of focusing on losing that 20 lbs you might set a theme of 'beach body'. It's not hard to imagine what a beach body would look like in your head. And it's fun and easy to imagine yourself as having a head turning bod. With a theme there is no hard and fast path. The yearly odessy to a beach body can have it's ups and downs but it matters not because you are moving toward your theme all year.

Off the top of my head here are some themes that might be fun for you to consider;

*Travel
*Adventure
*Knowledge
*Tranquility
*Healthy body
*Family Harmony
*Lots and lots of Money
*Outrageous Fun
*Spirituality
*Beach Body
*Stability
*New Love
*Romance

This list could go on forever, but you get the idea. Because there is no specific goal, when you have that huge slice of cheesecake you won't have to admonish yourself and get all depressed. If your theme was beach body, just get back on theme tomorrow. Now admit it, isn't this a better idea?

All that's left is to set up a reminder system so that you can stay on theme for the year. My suggestion would be to make up a card, like the one you see above and put it in places you will see it often. You have my blessing to print off the one you see above. Then just start daydreaming to your little heart's content.

Life (and a beach body) are meant to be fun and easy!

Eduardo

My thought of the day: A friend is someone, who reaches for your hand and put's a cold beer in it! (ladies you are free to substitute the name of a girly drink instead of beer if you must)