Fueled by good intentions, many of us make New Year's resolutions to begin new healthy habits. The challenge, however, lies in turning these resolutions into reality. The average American makes the same New Year's resolution three years in a row before taking action. For those who do begin, only 40% of all resolutions are successful the first time around while 17% will take at least six tries to reach success.

This year, make your resolution smarter.  First, ask God to direct you in choosing the one habit that would really make a difference to your health if you focused your efforts on it. Next, phrase it in terms of positive steps you are going to take, rather than on outcomes you can't control.  Use the SMART acronym as a guideline for wiring your resolution. What specifically do you want to accomplish?  How will you measure whether you have accomplished it? Considering your reality and resources, is it attainable?  Is this healthy habit relevant,or meaningful, to you?   Determine how much time you need to accomplish it and give yourself a deadline.  

My prayer is that your SMART resolution will give you a specific destination and set you on the road to success in your wellness journey

Coaching Questions:  

Take a moment to pause, reflect, and embrace what you have learned about resolutions this week.

1. What has your experience with New Year's resolutions been?  When have you been successful?  What made the difference?
2. What habit or area of life do you feel nudged to focus on this year?  How could you reword this resolution to be more specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time sensitive?
3. What is your take-away from this week's pit stop?