Another year has come and gone as the hustle and bustle of the holidays are now behind us. January is the time many of us start to think and reflect on those resolutions we failed to achieve last year.  OK, let’s stop here for a moment.  And what I mean by that is, let’s S- step back, T-think, O-observe, and then P-proceed.

Instead of thinking about what you didn’t accomplish last year, step back from those original thoughts and think about those things you did accomplish – I’m sure you’ll find many more than you might have ever imagined.  Now observe your feelings as you acknowledge these successes versus dwell on your failures – and they don’t have to be big successes – great things come in little packages!  Feelings of disappointment, sadness, discouragement, or anger will magically morph into positive feelings of happiness, pride, excitement, and hopefulness.  To quote Barbara Fredrickson, world-renowned researcher and psychologist in her book Positivity:  “Positivity opens us.  The first core truth about positive emotions is that they open our hearts and our minds, making us more receptive and more creative”.

With your newly opened and creative mind, begin asking yourself the following questions:

• What strengths do I have that allowed me those successes last year?
• Who or what supported me when I needed it most?
• How did those successes align with my core values?
• What strategies did I use to overcome my obstacles?
• What is most important to me now when it comes to my own health and well-being?

You are now ready to proceed forward in setting goals (not resolutions) that are optimal for your well-being.  Remember, your answers to the above questions will fuel your success!