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!
©Copyright, 1991, 1995, Jane R. Rosen-Grandon. All rights reserved.
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Last Updated October 24, 1998 by Gary M. Grandon,
Ph.D.