With Great Resolve

'Tis the season for New Year's Resolutions. It is the time of year to assess what is missing from our daily lives and publicize to our friends what we intend to do about it. A resolution is embedded with possibility and hope. People imagine better lives when they make resolutions. They also communicate a certain baseline security with their current situation. After all, if you didn't even have food to eat or a roof over your head, you would hardly be resolving to watch the last 50 episodes of General Hospital (as one of my Facebook friends put into her status).

With new-found enthusiasm, we charge forward toward our goal, yet so few of us actually reach the goal. Why the low success rate? It doesn't seem to be for lack of necessary information. Any number of magazines and websites will tell you how to lower your weight, train for a marathon, or organize your home. It also doesn't seem to be for lack of desire. People appear sincere when sharing their resolutions. So what is it? Most people have not assessed their environment. They want to make a change, but Monday morning rolls around, vacation is over, and all of the same influences are upon them that caused them to not start that great new habit in the first place. When resolving to do something, consider the ways in which the people and places around you are supporting the old action (or inaction). Then, decide how you are going to deal with it. That's right, the world around you is not going to suddenly shift into place to create the ideal set of circumstances for you to train for a marathon, quit smoking, lose weight or watch 50 episodes of General Hospital. You need to make an internal change that allows you to be in the same world you've been in, with the added element of progress toward your resolution. Not sure how to do it? That's what a life coach is for. I'd love to help. www.DawnTrautman.com.