2012 Resolutions

One of the biggest challenges of being human is sticking with the plans we've made. When I look back at my failures, both big and small, it boils down to not having done what I knew to do. Doesn't it seem as if we're guided by two voices, always at war over our time and attention?

People who have goals achieve more results in their lives. The issue is that the majority of people don't have clearly-defined annual goals -- goals that are written down, goals that are a clear statement of your top priorities for the coming year.

Even though performance reviews are intended to improve our performance, few of us welcome them. Why? Because we're afraid we'll get bad news, hear about what we're doing wrong and be given advice we don't want -- or feel we need.

To make 2012 your personal best year yet, please stop trying to get rid of all your negative thinking at once because it just can't be done. By following the four steps below, you'll find your strongest limiting paradigm and create the way around it, once and for all.

Your health starts in your home. If you want to get healthy and stay healthy in 2012, begin by taking eight small steps to make your home toxin-free.

We all have patterns of thinking that have reached the automatic level. Unfortunately, many of these thinking patterns are traps. Traps that hold us prisoner to habits that do not serve us.

Check out my top 12 happiness tips for 2012. Apply these principles and you'll kick off the new year with a happier approach to life.

How many of us could use a do-over when we mess up? How comforting to know you've been given another opportunity to do better. The hope in New Year's is priceless.

Instead of putting more boxes and rules around who we should be, let's try being okay with who we are right now. This process will create the groundwork for us to be nicer, happier people with less complication, tension or stress.

All New Year's resolutions require extra energy, and if your day-to-day life already leaves you exhausted, you'll never get around to fulfilling your plans.

What will your New Year's theme be? In these troubling and unstable times, what theme can you take on to change your life, and perhaps the world, for the better?

Making New Year's resolutions that last requires a smarter approach. Too often they are set in a few moments rather than giving the process the serious attention it deserves -- or, better said, that you deserve.

You need to start with an assessment of where you are before spending time on where you want to be. You have to wrap up the loose ends before you make commitments for next year.

Welcome to 2012. What are you going to do to make this year your best yet? And no, we're not talking about unrealistic (yet well-intentioned) promises...

Here's a question as we head into New Year's resolution time: What's the best thing to commit to in order to lose weight?

It's time to sweep out your negative attitudes, emotions and behaviors and make room for positive ones. Get out of your funk and choose to ring in health and happiness in 2012.

Don't fall into that old pattern of not believing in yourself. You CAN make positive changes in your life this year.

This is what you have to do to keep that New Year's resolution alive, regardless of what your resolution is. Plant your determination and "watch it grow." Understand the cycle of success and how it works so that you keep looking ahead and adjusting your path.

By starting with a small but doable goal on Jan. 1 you'll be able to transition to increasingly challenging goals, slowly building up the confidence you need to make life-long change. Fast and furious isn't often the right way to set resolutions.