Add, Keep and Remove for 2011

I’m not big on resolutions because they don’t seem to last very long.  Toward the end of December and into the first weeks of January, everyone seems so fired up about entering a new year.  There is so much conversation about how the new year is going to be great and all of the wonderful things that will happen once the calendar flips to a new page.

However, it seems that people fail to realize that the changing of the calendar year does not automatically signify a shift in your life.  The only changes that can occur in your life are the changes that you initiate.  I think many resolutions go unfulfilled because people assume that things are going to be different in the new year and when life continues as usual they become discouraged and revert to familiar patterns.  Sadly, this realization usually occurs before January ends and the remaining eleven months are filled with more of the same.

So, what do you do?  I have a self-evaluation system that I use… add, keep and remove.  I realize that any change I want to see in my life has to start with me but it’s not always necessary to “change” sometimes you just need to tweek a few things to make them work better.  Try this…

ADD –  this would be like your resolutions but think of 2-3 habits that you want to add in 2011.  Make sure the habits are things that you can easily integrate into what you are already doing.  If they are too radical then they may be hard to maintain long enough to get integrated into your daily routine.

*I’m adding a daily devotion book reading, at least 8 glasses of water per day and Saturday seminars once a month for my young adult ministry.

KEEP – there had to have been some things that worked well for you in 2010.  Take a minute to consider those habits and make sure they don’t get lost in the change.

*I’m keeping my relationship with God, dedicating quality time to my son (being present when we are doing things together) and traveling.

REMOVE – somethings that are good to you are not good for you.  There are some things that I wanted and got in 2010 that I knew had no place in my life.  However, many times we keep these things because we don’t want to go through the growing pains of change.  We even keep people in our lives that aren’t good for us because we are afraid of hurting their feelings when we know they don’t have our best interest at heart.

*I’m removing ignoring my health issues with hopes they will fix themselves, every cup of coffee after #2 and investing time in guys that I know I’m not that into.

Happy New Year!!!

Let’s focus our energy on being the best person that we can be every day of our life.  There is no need for resolutions just creating healthy habits that allow us to grow into the people we were created to be.