Dear Joyce,
First I would like you to think back on past resolutions. How many of them were "shoulds"…things that your family or society thought you should do? If you are trying to fulfill someone else's expectations, you are almost doomed to failure. Major changes are difficult to make, and are almost impossible if they are not embraced fully in body, mind, and spirit.

For the coming New Year, I suggest you take a different approach. Make a list of things you would like to change in the categories of 1) Health; 2) Career; 3) Finances; 4) Relationships; 5) Home; 6) Recreation; and 7) Contribution. Remember, these are not things you "should" do, but changes you would like in your life.

Everything that comes to pass in the world begins as a thought or idea. If you plant the seed thought of success linked with your desired change, you are more likely to create the changes in your physical realty.

To do this, get into a meditative state and think about past successes you have had in the category you are thinking about. For example, in the Health category, recall a time when you were feeling very physically fit and what you were doing at that time that contributed to the feeling of wellbeing. Stay immersed in the feeling of fitness, feel grateful for how well you felt, and bring that feeling of fitness and gratitude into the present moment. Focus on how wonderful you are feeling by performing the actions that bring about your physical wellbeing and how grateful you are to have a healthy vibrant body. Start each day with this meditation and it will imprint the mind with beliefs of healthfulness and success, and gratitude for achieving it.

Thoughts linked with emotion create a magnetic force that attracts support from the Universe. Be aware of people and circumstances that come into your life to support your intention for wellbeing, and respond to these synchronistic occurrences by taking the actions that will confirm your intention to bring these changes about. When she was focusing on physical wellbeing, one of my clients discovered that a neighbor had a personal trainer coming to her home before work three times a week. My client joined with a group of neighbors who alternated these exercise sessions with morning walks. Not only did she feel more physically fit, but she also deepened her feelings of community and friendship with her neighbors.

Good luck with your intentions to become a better you!