2013 is Here.

If this is the post-apocalyptic end of the world life as we know it, then count me in. It’s looking pretty good so far! I had been telling people for months not to worry. My iPhone had 2013 on the calendar, so I was pretty sure things were going to continue on much as they had!

But for sure one thing that is coming to a close is 2012. We all pause for a moment at some point in the next week or so and just take a breath. We made it. Another year is in the books. How did it go? What worked and what didn’t? Who is important to me? What can I do for them? What must I leave behind now, either because it doesn’t serve me or simply because it’s time to move on and into a new realm in my life?

Likely you had lots of successes, maybe some events that didn’t turn out quite the way you had hoped, and likely a handful still on the list that are left undone begging your energy in the upcoming year. What will you change? What course is best to hold steady and unwavering on? Is it time to try the unthinkable that has been whispering your name but got you running in the other direction every time you heard it simply because you weren’t sure you could pull it off? Is there anything still lurking that had your commitment to improve on, yet still looks about the same as it did a year ago?

Good news: it’s never too late! Now’s the time. We all reflect right about now. Maybe an old pattern that holds part of you back from being who you want to be is in need of being replaced by a new more positive one that will take you there. Perhaps you are craving something as simple as simplicity! Whatever it is, here are a couple of thoughts that can help real change come about.

See it now. This is the first step. See yourself adopting the behavior you want, the pattern of positive reinforcement that will knock the old negative way of being out of your life. Envision how you will look, feel, and be perceived by others. See yourself with this aspect working for you every day of your life, whether it’s a new way of training, eating or just relating to others.

See it down the road. New Year’s resolutions are easy to make, somewhat simple to do for a week, but tough to carry forward past the first few weeks. Here’s a trick. See yourself in the middle of February still fully engaged in whatever positive ideal you are striving to have as your go-to behavior. See that future with you being empowered by the choice you made and the road you embarked on after the first of the year.

Looking back to yesterday to see if it has an effect on your life today may leave you feeling like it’s a waste of time. Making a monthly assessment or even quarterly reflection on how your work has impacted your life is more likely to give you something that is truly measurable. It also takes the emphasis off of actually getting a result from your new behavior and will help put it on actually enjoying doing it.

Load up. If there is more than one thing you are striving for in 2013, go for it! Some people say we should only try to change one thing at a time, a single behavior until we master that and then move onto the next one. But research is showing that working on several patterns at the same time is actually more effective than only dealing with one.

The power of repetition. This is one of the core concepts we highlight in our book Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You. Real core change clearly does not happen overnight. One walk or run is fantastic, but it will not hold you for the next twenty years. But a thousand runs can totally transform your physical health and completely overhaul your outlook on life. So no matter how many ideals you are committing to, make the biggest commitment to engaging in the positive behavior over and over and over.

Share the journey. Everyone from family to friends to coworkers to groups that are of the same mind as you are all fair game for engaging to help you along in your journey this coming year. We are all masters of the great excuse when we are facing a fallback to the old ways alone. We have the greatest reason ever to continue if we are doing it all together, and that is community. Others will help you when you waver, and you can be there for them should they find the old patterns starting to bark. Together we can all find the way to make 2013 a great year of positive changes.