However, truth be known, many times what makes a great year is our attitude, not our circumstances. I am a native Appalachian and many times circumstances there are frankly less than optimal whether one measures the amount of resources, health or opportunity. But in the midst of these challenges and sometimes-desperate circumstances there are resilient, happy and loving persons who see life as a joy and minimize the influence of their negative experiences.

Every year many of us face the New Year with a checklist of things we wish to change. As a college health professor, I had the opportunity to witness students every year discussing the changes they wish to see in their own life, most changes could fit into a few categories, physical body changes included eating better, stop smoking, go to bed at a reasonable time, taking better care of my skin, exercise more; mental and emotional health changes such as reading more, stop chewing my nails, stop being so angry or being kinder; relationship changes such as being more demonstrative or caring more for others, attend more religious services or responsibility changes such as managing things, whether things represent your calendar, your home, your automobile, your money, your ability to organize, or how much you procrastinate, or improving study habits.

Many of you may be wondering if change is really possible? Can it be sustained? I believe change is possible and sustainable. You can establish realistic goals and objectives and you can achieve success if you give yourself enough time and allow change to occur slowly and approach change methodically.

Here are some ways to increase the chances of success as you reach for a goal:

1. Identify goals. What do I want? Brainstorm the possibilities.
2. Choose only one goal you would like to achieve. Success is most likely to occur when you focus on a single change. Identify why you chose this goal and why it is important. Be honest and be realistic.
3. Write it down, become accountable, write your goal in your journal, make a note card place it on the refrigerator, on your monitor, your mirror, or where you get ready in the morning-- make it ever visible.
4. Create a plan to accomplish your goal and write it down and really refer to it everyday!
5. Break your goal down into smaller doable steps. Instead of loosing 30 pounds in the next four (4) months, make your  goal to lose two (2) pounds this week.
6. Seek resources to help you achieve the goal, allocate money, time and energy to really make your goal a reality.
7. Solicit friends, colleagues or family members to help you. Tell them you need them and what your goal means to you.
8. Implement your written plan.
9. Find ways to measure your success. Be flexible. Some weeks the measure of success may simply be that you made it through the week. Some weeks you may not lose any weight or smoke less. Feel successful that you simply did not abandon your goal.
10. Identify new ways to keep your goal in the forefront of your daily life. Read magazines, download podcasts, read blogs, books, or attend meetings, etc.
11. Forgive yourself of moments when you did not always make the best choices.
12. Celebrate your successes!

Remember, you can make changes in any month. You do not have to start January 1^st. You can start whenever you are ready.

In a recent year-long study the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) reported that of 3,000 people participating in a New Years Resolution study designed by Professor Richard Wiseman, University of Hertfordshire, found that by the end of the year, only 12% had been successful. The primary findings of this study were that men should set specific goals and women should tell the world about their resolution if they are to succeed. So with that in mind, make your goals specific and share them with others freely! Here is to you in accomplishing your resolution this year! As always, I am wishing you and yours a year filled with peace, prosperity and Vital Health!