Benjamin Franklin once said, “How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mind them.”

According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology at the University of Scranton, over 50 percent of us will probably make New Year’s resolutions this year, and only 8 percent of us will be successful in our resolve. Most resolve to live a healthier lifestyle.

About.com posted some great tips to help resolvers make more successful resolutions. They are:

Be Realistic – strive for a goal that is attainable.

Plan Ahead – make your resolutions early – if it is too late for January 1st, begin February 1st.

Outline Your Plan – Decide how you will deal with the temptation to leave your resolutions.

Make a “Pro” and “Con” List – It may help to see a list of items on paper to keep your motivation strong. Develop this list over time, and ask others to contribute to it.

Talk About It – Don’t keep your resolution a secret.

Reward Yourself – Celebrate your success by treating yourself to something that you enjoy that does not contradict your resolution.

Track Your Progress – Keep track of each small success you make toward reaching your larger goal.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up – Do your best each day, and take each day one at a time.

Stick To It – Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality.

Keep Trying – You can always start over! There’s no reason you can’t make a “New Year’s resolution” any time of year.

Resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle can be on the list for many of us. To think healthier is also important. According to Healthy Living, “Life is like the ocean. Sometimes rough, sometimes calm. Full of ups and downs. The fact is that whether you think positively or negatively, you shape your life accordingly.”

The Bible agrees when it states, “…my brothers, fill your mind with those things that are good and deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (Phil 4: 8).

For many people, a positive outlook has more meaning when based in a supreme power and His/Her unconditional love and sound guidance for man. This gives them a connection to something more powerful than themselves.

Have a Happy 2014 – filled with healthy thinking and healthy living!

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