“I think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s.” ~Henry Moore
Each year people make and break their new year resolutions – perhaps because they focus too strongly on negatives. Give your New Year resolutions a positive splash with positive resolutions to focus on today, in the new year and everyday of your life.
It’s easy to look at the negatives. Many people are approaching the New Year with lesser money, an inflated body and a soul battered by stress and family disagreements. In your mind, the coming year looks like a year of uncertainty for all and trouble for many, especially you. But it doesn’t have to be that way. How can you make your New Year resolutions stepping stones to a positively brighter and happier year ahead?
To start off, you can resolve to approach them positively. Negativity hurts. It drains your ability to get things done and makes you doubt everything, even yourself. When you repeatedly tell yourself or others that there’s no point in trying, that the world is out to get you and others are against you, you create the conditions for hostile, damaging relationships and unproductive days ahead.
Negativity also makes others avoid you. Friendship, opportunity and success literally takes a back seat from those who are overly negative.
So avoiding negativity should be your number one resolution for LIFE. But how do you do it?
Ten Positive Resolutions
First, approach every situation looking for a way forward. Nobody has to abandon realism and go around wearing rose-coloured glasses. Positive thinking doesn’t deny what is wrong or unhelpful, but instead looks for ways to transform the situation. So resolve that you will always look for a way forward, however difficult the situation.
For instance, if you are worried about being laid off at work, or about having to lay off a staff member, you should look at what skills you/they have that will be useful to new employers. How can those skills best be presented? Is there an opportunity for coaching or mentoring, to help with job searches and interviews? Offer yourself and others ways to move on from difficult situations, and you’ll see positive results.
1) Resolve to Be Honest and Respectful
Resolve to be honest, because dishonesty is always negative – but be honest in a positive way. Say what you truly mean, but keep it based on fact. Avoid personal comment and gossip. Speak well of others whenever possible, and speak well of yourself too.
Respect others enough to assume that they mean well unless there is evidence to the contrary. For example, if someone makes a negative or dismissive remark about your work, don’t take it personally and fire off a negative snappy response. Instead, think about the remark for a moment, and see if there is anything you can learn from it. Let the other person know that you appreciate their being so open with you, but say calmly that you found their approach very confrontational. (Some people are genuinely unaware that they come across as aggressive.)
Being positive doesn’t mean you are a doormat – it means you are a strong person who can assess the meaning of someone’s words without being distracted by their mode of expression.
2) Resolve to Be a positive role model
Resolve to make yourself a positive role model for others. Be the person who always looks for the good in others, points out their skills and acknowledges their contributions. Speaks to them as you would like to be spoken to, and don’t allow the negativity of others to draw you into a destructive game of tit-for-tat.
3) Resolve to Avoid Assumptions
Treat situations the same way you intend to treat people. Whether it’s a family argument or a situation at work, don’t just steam in making snap judgments and assigning responsibility. Take a moment to assess the situation, ask questions and find out what’s really happening. Make sure you understand before you act. Think with love and negative assumptions will never crop up.
4) Resolve to Be Forgiving
We’re all going to make mistakes. It’s the way we learn. Think of how mothers deal with babies – small children need to be encouraged to try things again and again, testing out different methods, being gently encouraged until they master the skills of standing, walking, sorting shapes and so on. Adults are no different. Even if things are clearly explained and support is provided, there will be mistakes. Forgive mistakes – including your own. Make sure you and everyone involved understands why they happened, and don’t use them as sticks to beat others. That way you’ll support everyone’s creativity and build love and trust in your relationships with those around you.
5) Resolve to Be Trusting
Learn to trust in the choice or decision to make a change. Practice respect for the confidentiality of decisions and choices. It is often important not to tell everyone about a New Year’s resolution right away. Maintain a safe space for the change by holding its ember tenderly in the heart for a while. It will be clear when the time for sharing is right.
6) Resolve to let Beginner’s Mind Emerge
Be open to new ideas on how to accomplish desired changes. Allow the mind to relax and be open to approaching a change in new and fresh ways. Let spontaneous ideas and insights emerge. Think about other goals and successes that have been achieved? What fueled those successes? Are there new and innovative ways of achieving this goal that have not yet been tried?
7) Resolve to Be Accepting
Fix what is broken and don’t fix what ain’t. Somethings may have to wait until after the holidays, but I have spent the last few months replacing all my old and terrible appliances that never did work properly. Many small electronics were over ten years old and I decided I was no longer going to fight the electric cord, antenna, door latch, lint filter or whatever else brought irritation into my otherwise calm existence. I also learned to live with that which was comfortable like an old pair of shoes, my favorite beat-up chair and limited pre-paid cell phone service. Acceptance is key to success and happiness.
8 ) Resolve to Surround yourself with Positivity
Keep in the company of positive people. Book stores are always brimming with happy people. I have never seen an unhappy face that was out shopping early in the morning for fresh produce. Religious places are always happy during off-hours, mid-week and when attended by desire and not obligation. Positive situations and positive people, make your vibrations go higher. Even if you have had a bad day, a few minutes surrounded by this kind of positivity can uplift you to no measure. Add one positive act, event or person to your day, everyday.
9) Resolve to Be Productive positively
It is very easy to get off track when a crises or problem arises that we feel must be addressed. By making a mission statement for yourself you will be more apt to stay the course during any trial. For example producing work which is edifying to yourself and others only. Money is important, but we have all learned the hard way during the “pay later heyday” that a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush and that quality and sustainability are more important than quantity and risk. Passion will raise your productivity positively.
10) Resolve to Give and Receive Self Acknowledgment
Look for ways to authentically acknowledge the inner self. Practice the art of supporting specific achievements in growth. Applaud when small successes are achieved on the journey toward realizing a goal or a New Year’s resolution. It doesn’t take a lot of fanfare. Simply say quietly to the inner mind, “Wow, great job”!
Using the Ten Resolutions Everyday
You can apply these resolutions – to any situation in your life everyday!
Maybe you resolved to lose weight last year and were unsuccessful. This year, look at the positive, not the negative. Instead of focusing on ‘losing’, look at your diet and lifestyle and decide on a couple of changes that will make you healthier and help you have more energy. You might resolve to replace sweetened drinks with water and walk or cycle to work at least two days a week. Respect yourself and be honest – don’t kid yourself that you can change your body without changing your lifestyle a little. Don’t assume that you will fail – find out about different ways of approaching the issue and work out why you didn’t succeed and what might help you this time. Forgive yourself for not being a size six, or whatever, and understand what would be a realistic goal in terms of your own health and lifestyle.
There are many wonderful lifestyle and attitude guides, but none of them can help you unless you resolve to approach your life positively. Every person has untapped ability and potential that can be released with the support of positive thinking.
This year, resolve to banish negativity and help yourself to a truly Happy New year and New Life.
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”
What are your thoughts on this topic? Have you made any positive resolutions for the new year and a new life? Share your thoughts and your resolutions in the comments below.
With Immense Love & Gratitude,
~Zeenat~
Counseling Psychologist/Spiritual Counselor
Motivational Speaker/Naturopath
G
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Hi Zeenat,
These are absolutely the best and most inspiring New Year’s Resolutions I’ve seen. So true: positivity is at the core of every change we wish to make. #8 – surround yourself with positivity, was a big part of my life last year and I feel it’s made a huge difference in my life. Reading your blog is one way I regularly surround myself with positivity!
Darling Sandra,
Your words here today make me smile..I’m so happy that my blog was part of your positive experience this year. I hope it will be for years to come…just like you are such a positive influence in my life. We might interact virtually, but the effect trickles down to reality. Thank you for being part of my positive world.
Much Love~
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Wow, very inspiring post!
Indeed, staying positive will bring you success in any area of life, but it also affects yoru emotions in every way!
I believe any thoughts we have can be negative or positive, no inermidiaries ))
So on whatever side are you will determine your destiny!
Speaking in terms of productivity, positive thoughts push you forward, negative ones pull you back. So It is essential to try and BE positive all the time.
You will feel great, no matter what!
Just think a bit, it takes no more time or effort to think positively, then to think negatively, so why not make the right choice? =))
http://www.achieveyoursuccess.com/
HI! I’m so glad you liked my positive resolutions 🙂 It does boil down to the ultimate choice we make. Positive is always the best way to go…. 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment here.
Much Love~
It always great to forgive. It takes much out of us. But we must learn to forgive and we ever decide grow.
Hi Jonathan,
You are absolutely right! Its all part of growing to be a better person….each resolution must reflect growth.
Thank you for your lovely comment here.
Much Love~
Zeenat,
These are all so, so good – and if we can truly resolve to even one of these – what a beautiful direction to be moving in!
While all of these each hold special meaning, the idea of acceptance is one that rings very much to my soul today. May I continue to move even more deeply into acceptance of what I encounter in this world….
Hi Lance,
A directions of positive growth….isnt that the best way of life…
Each year and each day presents amazing chances and promises…may your soul keep accepting these many presents each day brings.
So much love~
Wonderful! Your resolutions will lead to deeper joy and contentment because we will be focused on our connections to others and to our own sacred center. Nicely said.
Also, I had to laugh about making assumptions. I was emailing back and forth with a fellow blogger recently. In every one of my messages I was unconsciously making some sort of assumption about my correspondent that turned out to be false. I called him a one person assumption buster. A good lesson for me!
And a good lesson for all of us communicating with people in cyberspace! Or anywhere for that matter!
HI Galen,
Assumptions often lead to negative thought patterns…without us even realizing it! You are so right….all sorts of communication needs to be without assumptions and judgments. Makes for truly happy selves.
May each of these resolutions bring immense joy to each person who practices them.
Thank you fro your lovely comment here.
Much Love~
I usually don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but #10 seems like a good one for me. When I accomplish a goal, the first thing I think is “What’s the next goal?” I resolve to take the time to celebrate my successes.
HI David,
Celebrating your successes everyday is really a great practice in staying positive. It just goes to show the importance of setting resolutions everyday…rather than just for new years. I’m glad #10 resonated with you.
Thank you for your amazing comment here.
Much Love~
Another new year upon us — my how time goes by so quickly!
I loved this: “Fix what is broken and don’t fix what ain’t… Acceptance is key to success and happiness.” I recently made some pretty drastic changes in one part of my life, and part of the reason was that I thought that part of me was “broken.” Well, after four weeks of feeling pretty blah (and attributing it at least partly to the changes I’d made), I decided I wasn’t as broken as I thought. So I scaled back on those changes and reinstated what had been working just fine.
I’m learning that two steps forward and one step back isn’t always about slow progress. Sometimes it’s just about accepting ourselves as we are BEFORE changes are made, and loving ourselves no matter what.
Not sure if that made sense, but I’m sticking with it!
HI my Joyful Angel,
We often have this notion that we need to “fix” things ..even ourselves…but in all reality we are never broken….we just need the right loving perspective to move forward. That realization helps us heal so effortlessly.
And my dear it makes perfect sense!
Love you lots~
Positive resolutions are the way to go. Giving up something is usually hard, but adding something always seems much easier. The world could use a lot more positivity, I’d love to a bunch of people make these resolutions to be more positive and loving.
PS. I added your link to the Personal Development Campfire, as it was on resolutions this month. 🙂
HI Eric, Thank you fro adding me to your awesome Personal Development Campfire! I didnt know you were focusing on resolutions this month..but i love how it all fit together 🙂 I might officially join next month.
And positive resolutions that enhance your being, will last a lifetime….:)
Much Love~
Hi Zeenat:
You made some really great suggestions here – most of which I strive for every day. But I have given up making resolutions in the last couple years. I did so because by March, I usually forgot about these resolutions.
However I have, for the last couple years, chosen a few words each year that will guide me. Again this becomes tricky unless we constantly review these words and put them into action. So I would stress that all of us review our resolutions (or words) every day. Having this word or words for the year helped me.
I must say that I love your emphasis on positivity, which I know is the focus on your blog. Our world needs this positivity in the worst way. Thanks for a great post!
Hi Tim,
I love the idea of reviewing our words and resolutions everyday….it keeps them fresh in our hearts and minds.
Positive is the way be right 🙂 be it resolutions or everyday life.
Thank you fro your lovely comment here.
Much Love~
Zeenat,
You’ve put together a wonderful map for us on how to make our lives more successful, happy and positive. Thank you.
I especially resonate to celebrating our current achievements before we rush off to the next big mountain we plan to climb.
Hi Angela,
I’m glad these 10 resolutions resonate with you. And celebrating every little success makes us instantly happy right 🙂
Thank you for your gorgeous comment here.
Much Love~
These are 10 wonderful resolutions that we can all live by. What a love is that they are all about being and inspire and empower us to life life more fully
thank you
with love
Suzie♡♡♡
Hi Suzie,
I’m so glad you like these resolutions. Being constantly empowered everyday can be difficult…not so much if we resolve to make the right positive changes.
Thank you for your beautiful thoughts on this.
Much Love~
You know Zeenat, I never really thought about it before today, but New Year resolutions are really based in us finding something negative, and trying to change it. Rarely does anyone make a resolution to take a strength of theirs and make it even stronger. Thanks for this post, really got me thinking.
Hi Joshua,
Aha….got you thinking eh 🙂 I’m always available to make everyone put their thinking caps on 😉
But you’re right…when resolutions are based on removing a certain negativity they tend to back fire….the focus should be on enhancing our lives positively. The negativity automatically then takes a back seat.
Thanks for your lovely comment.
Much Love~
Hello, I stumbled upon your blog today via NetworkedBlogs. I like it very much and am going to hit the “follow” button. Your posts are very up-lifting. I think there might be something I can link to in the future. =)
Ryan
Hi Marvelous Minutia!
I’m so so glad you stumbled on my blog…and happier that its uplifting you 🙂
I do hope you keep stopping by.
Much Love~
Will try these for sure…!
Hi Swatcat,
Please do and then let me know too 🙂
Thank you for your comment here sweetie.
Much Love~
Thanks Zeenat…
As we come to the closing stages of another year and launch into a brand New Year, and if we want to change the way we live, there are a few vital ingredients that will be necessary if that desired change will actually take place this coming year.
New Year’s resolutions are useless unless we back up our resolve with a plan of action.
We must also acquire the correct knowledge and then put our self within an environment whereby we can access ongoing wise counsel.
I used to find ‘What is your new year resolutions?’ quite hard to answer. There are too many projects in mind, most of the time I neglected what’s more important – inner mind peace and satisfaction. Which is why I love your #8-10 the most. Positivity is an important energy for everyone, would love to have a ‘positive’ year ahead certainly.
@wchingya
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Thank you so much for this post Zeenat.
It touched home in a special way!
😉
Happy New Year and Happy New Day Everyday!
♥
Clau
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