What's your New Year resolution?

I have been hearing this like for a very long time and people tend to talk about this only during new year time and eventually they forget and do not even realize till the next new year.

Does every one have to have a new year resolution every year? Why not, things doesn't remain the same in their course of life, every thing pretty much changes around you some way or the other. So, adapting to them is nothing but changing. Sometimes it's difficult for us to do that, that's the time you need to think and analyze and be more mindful. The very idea of that can be a resolution, and if you want to start fresh on a new year that's New Year resolution.

The most popular ones are:

1. Quit Smoking
2. Quit Drinking
3. Get Organized
4. Get into Shape
5. Get out of Debt
6. Learn Something New
7. Help Others
8. Enjoy Life More
9. Spend more time with Family
10. Find a Mate

Find a mate??? What a loser? Is this a resolution? Please don't ask me, just trust me it is. Also "Enjoy Life More", falls into this category.

But, again the statistics say that every year about 70% of the people make some kind of new year resolutions. Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of these people forget about their resolutions within first several weeks of the New Year. If you are one of them, don't even have one. If you are really serious, I have some tips to encourage people how to keep them. Hope it helps me keep mine too.

• The most important thing is to be honest with yourself.
• Quit Cold Turkey
• "Between stimulus and response, there's a space, and in that space is our power to choose our response, and in our response lies our growth and freedom," says Marlatt.

And as you know, mindfulness gets you into that space. If you cannot control your own actions no one else can. I know it's difficult, so just find a way to deviate from it. Find activities that honestly makes you feel happy doing them.

• Don't try to be hard on yourself

The pleasure of victory is a better incentive than the agony of defeat. "Punishment is a poor motivator". It sets people up for failure. If all you do is punish yourself for failure, you won't stay motivated to change for very long. Instead, reward yourself for sticking to your limits and focus on the benefits of changing. For instance, if your goal is to drink less or talk less, treat yourself to something you want - a new book or DVD. Success tends to beget greater success, like they say "Like begets like".
"Never say, 'I can't do it". "People make mistakes. If you keep working at it, you will get better over time. That's common sense, isn't it".

• Get Better Friends

Consciously and unconsciously, people tend to imitate those around them. Surround yourself with friends who can also be role models. Make sure that people you hang out with are people who look and act the way you would like to. Social imitation is the easiest form not only of flattery but of self-improvement," says Stanton Peele.

Guys, if you get a chance please read the articles by Anita Hamilton: "In Old Age, Friends Can Keep You Young. Really".

Good friends can not only help you through slip-ups, but they can also help keep your New Year's resolution from taking over your life.

Rather than obsessing about what you shouldn't be doing, think about things you should. The distraction will help you curb bad habits. Focus on your higher goals and positive activities, things that both sustain you and fill your life. If you regularly engage in meaningful activities that give you pleasure - whether it's visiting friends, picking up a hobby, taking a class or doing volunteer work (one of the most overlooked sources of personal joy and meaning is helping others) - you'll simply have less time to crave or engage in the behavior that you want to reduce.

Again don't force people to be your friends, that's not gonna happen. Be honest and loyal if you expect your friends be like that to you. So, it's like merry-go-around, you might have to use the other techniques or have a resolution to pick better friends in life, just kidding.

I am proud to say that I have few best friends in my life, that I can look up to them.

By the way my 2010 new year resolutions are save money (this economic situation should teach you something, right?) and what ever it takes be happy and be a typical human being and put yourself first for anything.

If you are a mindful person all through the year, you don't need to have a resolution on New Year, but what are you going to lose, that's why Babu says, "Have one just for fun"

Bis Später!!!