by Sandra Bazen Cobb

Created on: December 28, 2008   Last Updated: December 26, 2009

It's time to rethink the old methodology of New Year's Resolutions. Forget about taking the traditional vow to quit a bad habit, or to start a new and better habit. These typical resolutions sound wonderful, but they rarely bear good fruit throughout the year.

Losing weight, controlling a temper, giving up a nasty habit, and vowing to save more money are all respectable and admirable resolutions that have one thing in common. If accomplished, you will be a better person by the end of the year.

There must be an easier way!

There is!

Let's bypass the traditional way of making resolutions and think outside the box for a moment. What if we go to the root of the problem?

For instance, instead of pledging to lose weight, why not look inside ourselves and find out why we tend to over-eat? The same rule would apply to any habit one wants to break. As for starting a new and improved habit, we must also ask ourselves why, why do we want to develop this new habit? Unfortunately, we all suffer from the egotistical condition of, "What's in it for me?"

After some soul-searching, I believe that most people will find that their bad or unwanted habits stem from some prior emotional trauma. The first thing to do is to remember that it is over. Why should we continue to torment ourselves with the garbage of prior events? It's time to throw out the trash. Recycle the soul. It is important also to remember that no matter what happened to you, it is not who you are and it can only affect your life as long as you give it permission.

Struggling to overcome bad habits is not the way to win at the game of life. We must break the cycle.

I believe it will be easier if we just start with a small list of the top five things we want to accomplish in the new year. Let's forget about the cigarettes, the alcohol and the bad temper for just a moment.

Let's focus on enhancing the whole person. If we focus on creating a better life, a life that genuinely seeks to share love and love more deeply, a life that helps others whenever possible, and if we focus on things above, then it is my belief that the unhealthy habits will eventually become subdued.

What do we really want?

Here's an example of my own top five things to accomplish in 2009:

1. To practice living in spirit 24/7 - via giving thanks, prayer, meditation, intentions and heartfelt communication with others.

2. To share and receive with a cheerful and grateful heart.

3. To be a good mother, counselor, mentor and friend to my daughters

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