It seems normal to start the New Year with a list of those things we want to change about ourselves and our behaviors. Written goals are a wonderful beginning anytime of the year, but if we think of them as a list of “thou shall nots” we might find ourselves derailed early in the game. Trying to remove unhealthy choices from our lives is much more difficult than focusing on ADDING healthy choices. Think of your resolutions as gifts that you are giving yourself and your family. Try these resolutions or gifts on for size and see if they don’t seem a little easier to achieve and more refreshing to focus on than the more traditional list.
- I will give myself the gift of time spent with the Creator each and every day.
- I will give myself the gift of daily exercise, stretching and increased movement.
- I will give my family the gift of a healthy breakfast each day.
- I will give myself the gift of well seasoned foods, without the use of salt.
- I will give myself the gift of an earlier bedtime each day.
- I will give myself the gift of forgiveness – of myself and of others.
- I will give myself the gift of fresh, whole foods the way God created them.
- I will give my family the gift of many hours of my undivided attention each week – time for all of us together, and each one, one-on-one to worship, learn, refresh, recreate and restore.
- I will give myself the gift of giving to others by being involved in my local church and ministries.
- I will give my family the gift of myself through paying attention to the important numbers in my life (cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, waist measurement and glucose).
