What Should Your New Year's Resolution Be?

It's never a bad idea to make physical health a priority in the new year, and if you were to be honest, this past year you've been majorly slacking. There are a few things that definitely should be understood when it comes to health and fitness goals:

We work out and eat well because we love our bodies, not because we hate them.
-to be the best version of ourselves, not to look like someone else.
-to be healthy, not skinny.
-we love ourselves right where we are.
-success is in consistency and developing a routine.

Whether it means finding a gym, sticking to a routine or going for a regular walk, it's time to start taking your health serious again because your life depends on it.

Have you been waiting until the last minute? Getting crazy distracted? Stopped giving it your all? Well, this year you're going to be a DOER. You're going to stick to your goals and get your tasks done promptly. You won't be swayed by obstacles or laziness and you will challenge yourself to do the things you never thought you could. Make it a mental decision- this year you will be a DOER and you will stick to your commitments long after the mood you made it in has left you.

If you were to be honest God has made a slow shift from the center or your life and this is the year to get realigned and back on track. God wants to fully restore your relationship with Him and guide you along the best path for your life (Psalms 32:8). That may look like: getting planted back in a solid church, starting a daily Bible reading plan, seeking faith-filled company or redeveloping a lifestyle of prayer. Your word for the year is "Realignment".

Has money been slipping through your fingers like sand, leaving you high and dry this past year? It’s never too early to learn the concept of managing your money instead of letting it manage you. There’s power in knowledge; especially when it comes to the knowledge of where your money is going. We could think we’re spending little amounts here and there but those small amount every day add up to big amounts and then you wonder why you’re short at the end of every month. Decide where all your money is going before you spend it so that priorities are taken care of and you don’t consistently find yourself in crisis. Get on a budget plan with resources like Mint.com. Don't forget to put some aside for emergency funds and giving back!

There are gifts and talents God has put inside of you that you may have not visited in a while. These are the things we naturally love to do and feel fulfilled in when doing it or watching someone do it. For some of us that's singing, drawing, writing, dancing, whatever! This year set aside time to invest more and enjoy the gifts God gave you from time to time even if there’s no reward and no one sees it! You’ll find it personally rewarding by awakening and bringing inspiration to your soul again. Sometimes we get so caught up in busyness that we forget to refuel in the passions that we were born with. God delights in us when we delight in the gifts He’s given us.

If you were to be honest, this past year virtual reality has taken over present reality. You've totally lost how to live in the moment. Your phone is subconsciously known to only be in one of two places. If it’s not in your hand it’s been transferred to your pocket and if it’s not in your pocket its in your hand. These are the basic motions all day, every day when it comes to you and your smartphone. It is now one with your body.

They say it takes about 21 days to break a habit. All of these things may have become second nature to you to a point that its subconsciously how you function. So this year you have to be intentional about breaking it. Go on a sabbatical, delete some apps, turn off a few notifications, store it in a separate room when you're reading or working or with people. Remember, when it comes to any addiction of any kind, you’re not just on the defense, you’re on the offense to be preventative. This year you will live in the moment and learn to love the beauty around you.