I love to write about balance, talk about balance -- most likely because it fascinates me, is ever-changing, and different for everyone. There are times when I feel my physical, emotional and spiritual balance are in perfect harmony -- but more than likely it seems that one or two or even all three are lacking. So before we even attempt to make a goal or change our way of going about life, we have to use our own wisdom and decide where our lives are out of balance. Another note, we can't change everything at once, so let's prioritize. Maybe we're out of shape, we have a desk job and we need to move more. Or perhaps our eating habits have a lot to be desired -- the cashiers at our favorite drive-thrus are now part of our Christmas list. So in this instance, we're looking at balancing out that physical aspect. Or maybe we have an anger problem, or just need some time to be still.  So our first point is:
 

• Examine our lives and pick one thing to improve. A key to this however is not to view our lives negatively, but rather in a positive light. First examine what's going right in our life, we'll feel positive. With a positive, optimistic view, we're motivated. We now have the resolution within ourselves that we can do things and achieve them. If we begin the process with the view that we're way out of balance, a lazy slump, then it's much harder to drag a lazy slump off the couch than a hard-worker that's taking a breather. So let's always, always think positively when we're examining our lifestyle, and then our goals will be set from a motivational platform.
• Action plan. This must be realistic. We mustn't set our sights so high that it's unachievable and we then lose our motivation. If we want to start running -- let's do it -- but let's not plan on running a marathon in three months if we've never run a day in our lives. Marathon, yes that sounds nice in the future, but for now it may be running/walking 2 miles three times a day. So break a large goal into smaller goals.
• Write it down. Many times when we write things down it can feel less overwhelming or at least we feel more organized. Visualize what we want; each choice that we make in life has a consequence. And whatever we decide -- whether to spend more time with our children or write a book -- it's important to be really present with our task/goal at hand and not be lost in our past or worried about our future. That way each moment of our present-time will be well spent and much more focused. This is hard to do and advice I need to try and follow more consistently.
• Evaluate our action plans and goals if they're not working for us. This isn't for the mere purpose of realizing it's just too hard and thus give up, but rather sometimes we need to tweak our plans slightly. So we watch our intake of food so much so that by 3pm, we're a crazed mad woman scanning the kitchen for any sign of sugar. Maybe we don't limit ourselves to such extremes that we then over-indulge when we can't stand it anymore. Let's use wisdom and honor ourselves when we're setting and altering our action plans.

So let's not be discouraged that the New Year has passed with no New Year's resolutions. Now is as good a time as any to sit down and analyze our lives and make more positive changes.