New Year Resolutions = Care for the REAL you

Did you make a New Year's Resolution? Was it a challenge to think of one? Really, a New Year's Resolution is an opportunity for you to re-commit to caring for the REAL you.

If you focus your commitment on achieving things that are in your best interest, they become an expression of authentic love for yourself- your REAL self.

This year, I'm making a few special commitments to myself in honor of my 40th year of life, and in anticipation of my most important upcoming birthday, my 41st. For those of you that haven't heard me speak, my Mom died at age 41 (when I was 20). Given her life was cut short, I have been striving to position myself to be living "my best life possible" at age 41. Here are the things I feel I need to do to achieve that (and you'll get my point about self-care in reading them):

Make every effort to be as healthy as possible.
This is multi-faceted.
1. Physically healthy means I need to maintain an optimum weight. I know full well when I weigh too much and I know specifically how I got there and what I need to change. I also need to regularly exercise, be proactive in managing my health risks (ie. follow Dr. recommendations, take medications, and take health supplements). This is all a part of being good to the REAL me.
2. Financially healthy means I need to be responsible with my money, do the greatest good I can with my financial gifts, and be disciplined with the use of my money. Albeit practical, this one is hard for me. I can do a better job in this area (and I'm sure many of you will find "save more, spend less" a familiar mantra).
3. Spiritually healthy, for me, is a holistic perspective. I need to care for my spirit. My spirit needs times of calm and relaxation (super challenging for me!), my spirit needs motivation and encouragement (you know the variety- positive self talk, solution focused reading and positive psychological food!) and my spirit needs to be loved (by my God, my family and my friends- spending time nurturing those relationships results in nurturing of my soul).

Continue to live LIFE in a REAL manner, and move forward always.
For me, being "myself" is important. Being REAL- and working to further develop and share my natural abilities and talents makes me even more authentic. I have a specific list of things I'd like to achieve here, but a few for you-
1. Continue to develop REALiving. Of all the goals we had in starting REALiving, the impact it has had on YOU the fan is the most apparent, and the most powerful. Like everything we do at Aurora Community Services (the REALiving parent organization) the impacts we have on people and their LIFE are the most powerful and the most important. Any other goal is secondary. So, however this medium can be moved forward, it should be. Because our first impression is that it's too good not to. **We'd love to hear your opinion on this one. Post a comment on this blog or email us at info@REALiving.net.
2. Continue to develop and enhance my gifts to share. My ability and reach as a motivational speaker (improve my skills and speak in different locations in the country), and further development of my skills and reach as a writer (more writing, more blogging, more columns and dang it all, a book!).

All in all, making any New Year's resolution should be all about YOU. Taking care of the REAL you, nurturing/growing/developing the REAL you and the all important sharing of the REAL you. All of those things together will achieve the perfect balance of authentic living- and THAT will make you happy and content.

Happy New Year to all of our REALiving fans- those we've never met (but read our blog and materials) and those who have attended our events. We love you all!

Keepin' it REAL,

Holly and your friends at REALiving