Joy Love As the 2012 begins, sit down with a pencil and paper, or just think deeply about what you would like to have changed about 2011. Did you have bad habits? Relationship problems? Decisions you regretted? Projects you left unfinished? Jot them down, then try to envision how you can avoid similar problems in the future. For instance, if you procastinate,eat junk food, smoke or drink or gamble too much, make a concrete plan to cut down or quit these bad habits altogether, perhaps by joining a support group or talking to people who have already dealt with such challenges. Commit to working on relationship problems, by seeking professional help or by working it out between the two of you. Look over projects you may have left unfinished and decide whether you still want to finish them, and make plans to do the next step, or get rid of them. It's okay to let go of something about which you no longer care. Sometimes it's better that way. Is there something you have always wanted to do, but never tried before? Traveling outside the country? Creating your own website? Continuing your education? Starting a business? Do a little research on whatever it is. Starting something new, whether it works out or not, is a good way to make the 2012 an improvement over the 2011. Even if you find that you don't enjoy it, you still put yourself out into the world and took a risk, and may have found something even more interesting through exploring new things. In any case, you woke up your mind and added a dimension to yourself when you tried something new Go through your address book. Is there anybody in there with whom you have had no contact in the past year? Did you want to, or is this a relationship better ended than renewed? The new year is a good time to take a look at the relationships you have, and how they can be improved or abandoned. Never forget your Network determines your Networth. But be sure to identify were you want to be and the kind of people that can get you there, you dont neccessarily have to like their face, looks, religion e.t.c, all that matters is your accomplishment. i.e if you need to sell a bag, it does not matter if the buyer has hands or not, you just sell. Be realistic. Change is hard; it's often the best possible thing you can do for yourself, but trying to change too many aspects of your life at once can be very stressful and can undo the good effect it was intended to have. Quitting smoking, losing weight, enrolling in a photography course, committing to spending every weekend doing yard work for your grandma and reading a classic of literature every week, for instance, is bound to fail because you will overwhelm yourself. If you feel you need to do all those things, just don't do them all at once; make priorities and do the most important ones first, no more than two at a time. Making yourself crazy is not an improvement in most cases. Tips & Warnings * Forgive yourself and move on. It's not just you--nobody is perfect or had a perfect year. The key is to celebrate the good and downplay the bad. * If you are making big changes in your life, notify the people around you. At most, you will generate support and encouragement; at least, you will have given fair warning and will feel more obligated to follow through. * If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Sometimes, making change just for the sake of change can cause problems. Make sure you aren't destroying anything of value. Aim for No Permanent Damage. * Taking risks is a good thing, generally speaking, but be aware of all possible drawbacks before you jump into anything you can't back away from after it's done. When in doubt, sleep on it. You may be able to modify your planned change so it's not as extreme at first.