As 2011 comes to a close, anxieties build thinking of our "list" of items we have to accomplish in the new year. Why so anxious? ...Eleven is behind, so, here are five options that will revolutionize your life in 2012. These are five things that might seem absurd, but, will literally help to jump start a new you! You must have heard it said, "Out with the old and in with the new!" This is great, if you are actually adhering to replacing the old. It will take commitment, dedication and diligence to discontinue old habits to replace with new. Your metamorphosis will begin immediately following your decision to change.
1. Do not make a list of New Year's resolutions!
The unrealistic pressure of tackling a lengthy list of insurmountable problems can be mind boggling. Pick one problem and run with it. Choose something that will encourage a better you. Revolt against the norm or what you think you would normally do. If it hasn't worked up to this point, then isn't it time for real change? "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.".
2. Dump your "YES" men!
From this day forward, establish and build relationships with people in your life who, prior to today, you would have never given a second thought. The people we surround ourselves with can essentially make or break us. It may be a co-worker, teacher, an older adult, a relative or just anyone who has the potential to pour into your life. We tend to avoid relationships that take a little work. If it's just a personality conflict and the person has much to give and share, take the challenge and make it a project to work on. By surrounding yourself with "yes" men and those that agree with everything you say, you're setting yourself up for a kind of relationship atrophy. Iron sharpens iron...hang with people who are more talented, more highly educated and wiser than you. You'll get over it.
3. Give your stuff away!
Nothing can keep you intrenched in the past like "your stuff". Let go of things that hold you back. In order to catch a monkey, you must use a heavy box with an opening just large enough for the monkey to squeeze its hand through. Inside the box are bananas. When the monkey grabs the bananas, he inadvertantly makes a fist. The monkey tries desperately to pull his paw out, but, with his fist now clenched around the bananas, it's too large to pull out of the small opening. Either the monkey releases the bananas and escapes or he holds on to them and is captured. Most monkeys will hold on to the bananas and risk capture. Similarly, we hold on to the bananas which keep us from moving forward. In this economic nightmare, the only change, if any, begins with us. If you have something that you haven't used in a year, clearly you don't need it. Give it away to the Salvation Army or a local thrift store where those who truly need will have an opportunity to enjoy something nice, for a change.
4. Tithe one tenth of all you earn!
One of the greatest spiritual laws in the Bible is Malachi 3:10, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.". It's not only Christians who should tithe...atheists, agnostics, believers and non-believers alike and anyone else who has never experienced tithing. Now is the time to give the first fruits of your labor. Why? There are 18 basic physical laws of science in our known universe of which we are familiar and there are specific spiritual laws that many are unfamiliar with and they eclipse man's physical law. By devotion to these truths, we open our lives up to a myriad of blessings that can only be controlled by our creator. Test Him. I dare you. If you aren't comfortable giving to the church, then start with giving to the charity of your choice. Take baby steps to freedom.
5. Look in the rear view mirror!
Don't let the past designate your future. Your future is the key. Keeping your eyes on the prize is your goal. Your yesterday is already getting smaller by moving ahead. If you are struggling with letting go of certain things in the past, learn from it, squeeze every drop of "lesson" you can from it and leave it lie. Moving on, whether it's a death in your family, a broken heart, a tedious job, a questionable relationship or an endless rut where you've been for years...and a rut is simply a grave with both ends kicked out...by looking in your rear view mirror you can maintain concentration on what's ahead and watch your troubles disappear. Simply take a deep breath and begin to explore new roads, driving on to greater opportunity.
If your past involves a painful memory of a loved one, take a note from the pages of the Nelson twins' life manual. This year, December 31st, 2011, will mark the 26th anniversary of Rick Nelson's passing in a tragic New Year’s Eve plane crash. It seems that Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, twin sons of Rick Nelson, learned how to cope with the untimely death of their father. Out of their grief came healing in the form of a unique multi-media tribute show featuring live music of their dad's hit songs with never before seen footage of the Nelson family, including interviews from many who were influenced by Rick. "The Ricky Nelson Remembered Tour" headlined onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas during her December 5th, 2009, inaugural sailing. Matthew and Gunnar Nelson were the first celebrity performers to take the Opal Theater stage on the ship’s inaugural 7-day cruise. “We figured it's up to us to help keep his music alive,” Gunnar says. “Not only is it a true pleasure to play these great songs that people love, but it makes us feel profoundly closer to our best friend, our Pop!".
Let's recap. Don't make a list, dump your "yes" men, give your stuff away, tithe one tenth of all you earn and look in the rear view mirror. Take the despair of the past, squeeze life's lessons from it and direct all of your energy toward a goal, moving forward with great anticipation and hope for what is to come. This sounds crazy, but you know, it just might work!
Enjoy the happy new you!
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www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2009/11/prweb3265644.htm
http://bit.ly/StJudeChildrenRH
Photo Credits:
1) 2010 fireworks display (photo from http://www.totoweb.org/Images/)
2) Ricky Nelson Remembered promo pic (http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2369254.htm)
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