From Dr. Jane's Notebook

Fall: Happy New Year, Y'all

The arrival of September, the start of the school year, and the end of vacation all give rise to the start of the Fall season. Hopefully we've all had time to rest and rejuvenate. Once again, the hurried pace is accelerating and we have new choices to make. There's nothing like the opportunity to start over!

It's time to make New Year's Resolutions. For many of us, the psychological new year is September. The beginning of the seasons occurs in the fall. Its back to work and back to school as usual. As such, what better time to make new resolutions and maybe even achieve them by January!
Write down a Fall plan. The act of making a checklist helps us organize our thoughts and actions. And what greater joy can there be than checking items off the list! For a true sense of accomplishment, write down your goals. This helps program your unconscious mind and keeps you on track. When we streamline our goals, we gain self-esteem by knowing our purposes and acting on them.
Think of a Theme for this year. Positive affirmations have gained popularity in recent years as we learned the power of self-talk. Our moods and confidence are greatly affected by what we tell ourselves. It can be very depressing to be negative and critical of ourselves, or a boost to our ego to pat ourselves on the back. If your mind-talk is not as positive as you'd like, think of the title for a song or book to set the tone for yourself.

Hopefully, you'll choose a motivational theme or "mantra" that will inspire you and make you feel good about your life. Song titles like "Forever Young" or "Gonna Build a Mountain" can energize your thinking and lift your mood.

Prepare for success! Some people believe that they are in charge of their destiny and ultimate success. Others growl at the twists of fate which seem to rule their lives. But if all we really have to do is "die and pay taxes", that leaves alot of room for determining our own happiness. The truth is that we work for ourselves and decide how we wish to live our lives.

Self-fulfilling prophesies can be a way of life. Tell yourself that you're bound to trip and fall, and get ready to hit the dust. Or get ready for a great new year, set your goals in action, and don't stop flappin' your wings till you're soaring in the sky. Its gonna be a great year!

Return to Personal Growth

Return to Table of Contents

Last Updated October 24, 1998 by Gary M. Grandon, Ph.D.