December 28, 2010

Seven Steps to Successful New Year's Resolutions: Redesign Your Lifestyle and Your Resolutions!

Reduce the Pressure

  • See the goal as ongoing, active, living and flexible, not as an all-or-nothing 365-day commitment, which = failure. (Example: The "January gym bonanza.")
  • Small steps: Progress comes from tiny repeated actions.
Remain Positive
  • A resolution that pulls you forward: something you want to move toward, not get away from. Instead of saying, "lose weight, stop smoking, and quit being negative..." Say, "make healthy decisions about food, regain energy, be in control of my daily decisions and see more of the positives in situations and people."
  • Think in terms of intentions and what you're looking forward to. Not what you "should," "must," "always" or "never" do.
  • If a goal is exciting as going to the dentist...

Reflect your Truest Values and Priorities

  • How do you define success? What are your highest values? (Family, faith, friends...)
  • Do the actions of your day actually reflect these priorities?
  • Remember that "No." is a complete sentence when other less important demands appear.

Ritualize the Resolution

  • Attach it to part of your day and schedule. What specific and doable action can you integrate into your life on a regular basis? When, how and for how long?

Recognize the Power of your Thoughts

  • Thoughts automatically start you moving in a certain direction, positive or negative. (Example: New car thoughts... you see that car everywhere.)

Regroup after Setbacks

  • Recommit and restarting is better than giving up.
  • Predict challenges and address how you will cope ahead of time.

Visualize the Rewards

  • Visualize your small and large successes and the new outcomes for your life. How has that resolution made a difference?
  • What will be the benefits and rewards of adopting this new habit? What will you have more freedom/time/energy to now do?
 
If you or someone you love needs help, contact Centerstone at 888-291- HELP (4357).

If you are in crisis, call Centerstone’s 24-Hour Crisis Intervention Hotline at 800-681-7444.

For more of Susan's Wellness advice, visit our Health and Wellness page.

About Centerstone
Centerstone, a not-for-profit organization, has provided a wide range of mental health and addiction services to people of all ages for more than 50 years. Through more than 60 facilities and 170 partnership locations across Middle Tennessee, Centerstone serves more than 50,000 children, adolescents, adults and seniors each year. Centerstone is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). For more information about Centerstone, please call 888-291-4357 or explore our website: centerstone.org.

Susan GillpatrickAbout Susan Gillpatrick, MEd, LPC, CTS
Susan Gillpatrick, Centerstone Crisis Management Specialist, primarily works in the field with clients in critical incident response situations, and in Centerstone’s wellness trainings and presentations.  She is also responsible for planning and implementing marketing and growth strategies for Centerstone’s Crisis Management Strategies.

Ms. Gillpatrick is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Trauma Specialist, Certified Workplace Conflict Mediator, and Mental Health Service Provider in the state of Tennessee and a National Certified Counselor.  She is also a member the American Counseling Association, the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists, the Tennessee Mental Health Counseling Association, and the Middle Tennessee Employee Assistance Professionals Association.  She is a frequent presenter at local and national conferences, and has had numerous articles published.  She received her Master of Education degree in Human Development Counseling from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.

To request Susan Gillpatrick to speak with your group or organization about complete wellness in living, contact her at (615) 460-4445 or susan.gillpatrick@centerstone.org.