Happy New Year! Are you having a great start to the New
Year? Did you make New Year's Resolutions this year?

There's a wide range of responses to resolutions. Some
people relish the fresh start that a new year provides and
have boundless ideas and lists of what they'd like to do or
change. Others are content with the status quo and prefer
not to rock the boat. Many, frustrated by a track record of
unmet resolutions, feel jaded and scoff at the process.
What's your take on resolutions?

Whether it's exercising, eating healthy foods, or cutting
back on caffeine, why is it that people so quickly become
disillusioned with their New Year's Resolutions? Would we
all be better off simply not making resolutions at all?

I don't think so. I believe we are wise to pay attention to
our intentions. There's often a lull after the holidays
that invites us to slow down, pause, reflect on the past
year, and dream of the year to come. We vow to make changes
or at least entertain optimistic fantasies when there are
things we want to improve in our lives. Just as an oyster
needs an irritating grain of sand before it can produce a
pearl, our dissatisfaction provides incentive for change. A
new year gives us a chance for a fresh, new beginning and
an opportunity for transformation.

But how do we go about creating change that will stick,
come February, March, and even May? Most resolutions fail
because they seem like a lot of hard work. It's hard to be
enthusiastic about something that's a struggle. Take a
different approach this year. Make resolutions that are
fun, exciting, and make you happy. Go for an enticing
outcome, but make sure the process of getting there is
enjoyable. My theory is: joyful resolutions naturally
happen.

We each have a built-in tool that can help us envision and
successfully commit to joyful resolutions. It's an internal
compass that I call a Joy-o-meter& #8482;. It can tell you
if you are heading in the right direction, if you are in
danger of veering off course, or if you are completely
derailed. Your Joy-o-meter can guide you in making
decisions about starting, stopping, or changing a
particular course of action. Because we are hardwired for
happiness, our Joy-o-meter always gives a true reading
without ever needing to be recalibrated. To consult your
Joy-o-meter, get quiet and relaxed, and then check in with
yourself to measure your level of joy.

Ask your Joy-o-meter:
o On a scale from 1-10, how happy am I?
o How joyful would (Fill in the blank with whatever is in
question.)__ _________ ____ make me?
o How happy would I be to stop ___________?
o How happy would I be to start ___________?
o What could bring me more joy? o How happy would I be if I
made this change?

In The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama teaches that being
happy is not difficult. It's a matter of discovering what
makes you happy and then cultivating that in your life. The
Joy-o-meter can help you do just that. Have fun using this
tool to create and stick to resolutions that magnify the
joy in your life.

About the Author:

Grace Durfee is a Professional Certified Coach, trainer,
and speaker who works with busy professionals, small
business owners, and career changers who want to achieve
professional success while enjoying more balanced lives.
She is the author of the book Balance with Grace: Celebrate
the Kaleidoscope of Life (January 2008). To learn more and
read her blog visit http://www.balancewithgrace.com