And, we know what typically happens in January! Everyone is 100% focused on their resolutions! People are going to the gym daily, eating nothing but fruits & vegetables, drinking water by the gallon….and then all of a sudden February arrives and BAM! Many of us hit a brick wall. Our resolutions go to the way side. And we end up feeling like big, fat failures!

It doesn’t have to be like this!

On this week’s podcast, Jen and Leah talk about NOT Making resolutions this year, but instead creating Life Shifts. They explain that resolutions are typically short term chores, or projects. And people tend to pile so many of them on themselves in January that there is no way they are going to be able to accomplish all of them!

Life shifts, however, are long term commitments that we make to and for ourselves.
Take a look at the chart below to see the difference between the two.

Resolution: I am going to lose 30 lbs by March
Life Shift: I want to live a healthier lifestyle and be comfortable with my weight
Resolution: I will go to the gym everyday to get in shape!
Life Shift: I am going to make exercising a part of my overall plan to be healthy
Resolution: I am not going to ever eat junk food or fast food
Life Shift: I am going to make positive choices when it comes to my eating habits
Resolution: I am going to be SUPERWOMAN and have a successful career AND a wonderful home life with my spouse and children
Life Shift: I am going to create a healthy balance between my personal life and my professional life

See the difference? Life Shifts are attainable. With Life shifts you are not setting such high unachievable goals, instead you are making small shifts in your life that will have huge impacts!
The other great thing about life shifts is that you don’t have to wait until January to start! You can create life shifts at any time!

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On this week’s podcast Jen and Leah reflect on the timeless Christmas classic by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol.
If you will recall in the story, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who help him examine his life and find the true meaning of Christmas.

The three ghost are: Christmas past, Christmas future, and Christmas present.

This is a good example of how the past, future and present are represented in our lives, and how they can either hold us back or propel us to move forward. Think about each of the three ghosts and how they impact YOUR life.

Christmas Past: Are there things in your past that are holding you back from living in the *present*? Make it a point to let them go this year. The past is the past, and we can not change nor erase it. But, we can learn from it and take those lessons to improve our lives today. Also, take the good lessons from your past (traditions and memories) and incorporate them into your life today.

Christmas Future: None of us has a crystal ball that can tell us what the future holds for us; however, so many of us get into the habit of worrying about the future, that we forget to live in the present! While we can’t predict the future, we can make plans and set goals for the things we want to achieve in the future. And, then create an Action Plan that will help us get there.

Christmas Present: So, instead of relieving the past and fretting about the future, the one thing we can (and should) do is live in the present. Each day we have on earth is a gift! Don’t waste that gift. Learn to live your life proactively instead of reactively! You are the one in charge of your life!

Happy Holidays from Creating Your Masterpiece!

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