• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Self Help Daily

Inspirational and Self Help Blog with a Save the World Complex...

  • Home
    • Tour Self Help Daily
    • Self Help Daily’s Archives
    • Privacy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Inspirational Quotes
  • Self Help
    • Positive Thought
    • Health
    • Mental Fitness
    • Relationships
    • Self Growth
  • How to Be Happy
  • Book Reviews
You are here: Home / How to Be Happy / Four Words That Can Make a Huge Impact

Four Words That Can Make a Huge Impact

January 2, 2012 by Joi 3 Comments

Book links are usually affiliate links. This means I earn a small percentage when you click through and buy the book. This costs you nothing extra - it simply allows me to keep my cats in the lifestyle they're accustomed to.

As I’ve probably pointed out on this self help blog as other places before, I’m a New Year’s Resolutions junkie. In fact, I’m fairly certain NO ONE relishes in these annual goals and resolutions as much as my daughter Emily and I do.  We make lists, we share them with one another, and (most importantly) we hold each other responsible during the year.  Make no mistake about it, New Years Day is a holiday we enjoy almost as much as any other.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few hard and fast tips for making and keeping resolutions:

  • Think of your resolutions as flexible guidelines for living. They may take different forms in the coming weeks and months.  As long as you’re moving in the right direction, consider yourself on the right track.
  • Write them down.
  • Keep your list in a place you’ll see on a daily basis: Maybe in a notebook, planner, or day book you see daily. If you read daily, you could even fold your list of goals and use them as a bookmark. If you aren’t concerned about privacy, pin them to a bulletin board or your refrigerator.
  • Be reasonable. Be realistic.
  • Make the first day of each month AND the 15th day of each month “Check In” days.  Read over your list and see how you’re doing.
  • Write your resolutions as GOALS rather than resolutions. For example, saying Weigh 50 pounds less by Christmas sounds grandiose…. because it is grandiose.  It also sounds more like a wish than a goal. Instead, write something more along the lines of, Walk for 30 minutes each day, no excuses, Switch from soft drinks to unsweetened tea and water, and Eat more fruits and vegetables and less fries and red meat. The mind likes having concrete things to work with.
  • Don’t fall apart if you mess up. If you’ve vowed to cut out french fries, for example, and you fall off the fry wagon, don’t give up.  Admit that you’ve cut WAY back on the unhealthy habit and keep on keeping on.  At the end of the year, if you can count the number of times you’ve ordered fries on one hand, you’re doing far better than most of us!

Whether you’re dealing with New Year’s Resolutions (no idea why I always capitalize the entire phrase), healthy new habits you’re trying to establish, or a couple of goals your working toward, there are four little words that can help you stay on the right track. Simple words, at that: I am happiest when….

Saying (or writing) these words before a goal connects the goal’s outcome with a very personal, very positive emotion.  For some reason, it’s incredibly effective and connects your mind and heart to the goal as though it were its life source.   We all want to be happy, right?  And the concept of being in our happiest state is certainly going to grab our attention.

Simply look at your goals and resolutions if you’ve written them down or try to catch them as they’re running around in your mind.  Connect an “I am happiest when” statement with each of your goals.  Below are a few examples with popular resolutions.

  • I am happiest when… the house is neat.  Make a point to clean house for an hour each day. Always put things where they go right away and never get behind on laundry or dishes.
  • I am happiest when… I eat right!  Eat more vegetables and fruit. Try different cooking techniques and recipes with fruits and vegetables.  Eat less red meat and eat salads or soup instead of fries or chips.
  • I am happiest when… I don’t lose my cool.  I will count to 10 (or 20 or 30!) before speaking when I feel riled.
  • I am happiest when… I get some sort of exercise each day.  Walk the dog for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night. (If you don’t have a dog, there are plenty of precious faces waiting for you at the Animal Shelter!)
  • I am happiest when… I don’t run out of money!  I’m going to be smarter about how I spend money.

There have been several instances where these 4 little words have worked wonders for me. Try them for yourself, you may be pleasantly surprised!

 

Filed Under: How to Be Happy, Positive Thought, Problem Solving, Self Improvement Tagged With: keep your goals, keep your resolutions, make healthy new habits stick

Previous Post: « Great Muhammad Ali Quote About Being a Champion
Next Post: A Surprising and Enjoyable Habit That Can Add Years to Your Life »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peter says

    January 2, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    wish u merry Christmas.

  2. BeccaMoteevates says

    January 26, 2012 at 11:14 am

    Making resolutions may be the easiest part, keeping them is another story entirely. Finding the motivation to pursue and accomplish your goals can be overwhelming amidst the daily toils of life. Thankfully, there is a vast amount of resources to help us stick to our goals this year.
    http://www.MOTEEVATE.com is a social network that allows users to create profiles based around personal goals. Join a community of experts in a variety of fields and interests, collaborate with friends and other moteevators, keep track of your own accomplishments, and prepare to inspire and be inspired.

    Go be great, moteevate!

Trackbacks

  1. Dream - Interpretation | Obstacle Dreams Meaning | Dream Interpretation says:
    January 19, 2012 at 11:48 am

    […] gotten WAY off track in some area.  It could be as simple as slacking off with a few goals or even New Year’s Resolutions.  Many people, after trying to battle some particular goal they’ve set for themselves […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

❖ Self Help Blog ❖

Cat on Pine Mountain , Kentucky

Welcome to Self Help Daily, a blog devoted to helping you get the most from life by getting the most from yourself!

Read the story behind the picture above in How to Live in the Moment.

Self Help Blog Updates

  • Great Alternatives for Alcohol that Aren’t Soda
  • Tips to Help Single Parents Achieve Financial Freedom
  • Battling Stress: When to Get Help With Essay and How to Do It”
  • Checklist for Your Mental Health During Covid-19
  • 5 Incentives for Career Inspiration
  • Essential Guide to Farxiga Coupon and its Use for Patients
  • Try to Have a Sleep-Filled Lifestyle
  • Why Hitting Rock Bottom Can Be the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You


Featured Quote Graphics

Don't Quit Quote Graphic

Dr. Seuss Quote About Being Who You Are

Booker T. Washington Quote About Hate

Wayne Dyer Quote About Karma

Quote About Habits

Footer

Inspirational Quotes

  • Abraham Lincoln Quotes
  • Billy Graham Quotes
  • Booker T. Washington Quotes
  • Dale Carnegie Quotes
  • Maya Angelou Quotes
  • Mark Twain Quotes
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes
  • Norman Vincent Peale Quotes

More Inspirational Quotes

❖ Self Help Daily Updates



Overcoming Empty Nest Syndrome

One of the questions I hear the most from my readers is, "How can I cope with empty nest syndrome?" I'll try to deal with this sensitive subject as often as possible. If you have any suggestions, I hope you'll contribute to the conversations!

  • Coping With Empty Nest Syndrome
  • Don't Just Cope in an Empty Nest, Thrive!
  • How to Be Happy in an Empty Nest
  • Overcoming Empty Nest Syndrome
Copyright Self Help Daily 2019