How to Upgrade Your New Years Resolutions

It's not always about adding pro's and taking away vices on New Years. This year try something a little different.

Your house is somewhat quite, the kitchen has been cleaned, guests have made their way back to their hometowns and just as you get the last piece of wrapping paper off the floor, it is time for the confetti chaos to commence. HAPPY NEW YEARS friends!

Around this time of year, it is customary for people to start brewing and reflecting on the year past and conceive of new elements to add into the year ahead. Some even think of things to take away (aka stop smoking or speeding, etc). While these can be helpful rituals, it is not always about adding or taking away in the New Year. Even though our human nature has us honing in on our faults and short-comings, there is often a slew of positive features we gained throughout the year that go under the radar. Each New Years we so often fail to give ourselves due credit for what we DID do right in the year gone by.

But this year I would like to encourage you to think of one accomplishment/personal trait/ or life lesson that you DID succeed at this year and allow your resolution to build upon that UPgrade style.

Did you start eating healthier in 2012? Upgrade with a new twist to the heath kick. Did you reach your professional goals? Blow the socks off those new clients this year with little "extras". Perhaps you finally learned to backseat the naysayers in your life. Props to you and UPgrade in 2013 by continuing to practice and learn about the importance of self-love.

The entire point of making a resolution is to incorporate a new, healthy practice into your life. When you build upon a resolution you have already proven you can stick to, you not only succeed in the follow-through part but also enhance and concrete a wonderful characteristic! Make it a practice to build upon your strengths and UPgrade yourself into each new year. You will already be starting out on a strong foot headed in the right direction.

Change can simply mean improvising something that is already in place, not necessarily altering it all together. May your New Year be full of personal gain and personal growth. HAPPY 2013 Reflectioners!

The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul. - G.K. Chesterton

- Kat E. Cowley