Why You Fail When You Make New Year's Resolutions

Have you ever made New Year's Resolutions and failed to meet them? It seems like by the middle of February, you are no longer doing what you set out to do on January 1. Why do you think that is? Here are my ideas on why we are often unsuccessful when it comes to resolutions.

You Set Unclear Goals

A lot of times, we will make unclear goals. For example, a lot of people say they want to lose weight. That sounds like a great goal, but it isn't a defined goal. How much weight do you want to lose? What time frame would you like to lose it in? What will you do to lose the weight? 

Without clear expectations, you will burn out fast. You need clear goals that are broken down. 

You Make Resolutions For the Wrong Reason

We make resolutions because we believe we have to. That is the wrong reason to decide to do something. If you are doing it just because you think you have to, you probably won't be successful. When you have the right motivation, you will meet your goals. 

You feel the pressure to make goals because the rest of the world is. It is better to make a resolution to do something when you feel passionate about it. Don't wait until the New Year, get started now. 

You Try To Improve Too Many Things at Once

It seems logical to tackle every area of your life that needs improving while you have some motivation, right? Really, you are just setting yourself up for failure. When you make too many resolutions, you will burn out quickly. 

If you want to make more than one resolution, start with one thing on the list. Master that first, then move to the next thing. 

You Want an Immediate Payoff

We are conditioned to want results immediately. That is what marketing tells us. Get results fast. To have long term results, you must be committed to working hard for a long time. We have high expectations that with a small amount of work, we should see amazing results. 

Ok, so you ate health for two days, and it was hard. Should you see the scales go down one pound? No. You won't see any results from a weight loss program for a few weeks. It will happen so gradually, that you might not notice it without someone point it out. 

The best way to be successful with your goals is to set reasonable goals that you can keep. Be sure you make them with the right motivation. Then be patient as you work toward your goals. 

You can read my other article about Top New Year's Resolutions 2015 and how you can actually keep them. 

Christmas Quotes and Well Wishes

Since Christmas is only a few days away, I wanted to leave you with a few quotes that will warm your heart. This is the time of year that we can show love to one another with passion and grace.

Experience Love This Christmas

I hope you receive enough love to be full all the year through.

Christmas is Love in Action

God sent His Son, Jesus, to the world. That was an expression of love. 

Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come in a Store

Even the Grinch understood that there was more to Christmas than presents. What a valuable lesson we should all learn. 

It is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

It is so true, it is a greater blessing to give than to receive. When you only think about what you will get for Christmas, you are usually disappointed. I hope you find the real joy of giving this year. 

Merry Christmas From Me to You

I hope you have an amazing Christmas with your friends and family. Enjoy your holiday and spread the cheer!

Video tutorial: how to foil highlight your hair

Do you like the look of highlights, but it cost too much money to go to a salon? If so, watch my video tutorial where I teach you how to do your own highlights using foil. Foiling your hair takes practice, but it is something you can do for yourself.



This will save you a lot of money to highlight your hair at home.









You can visit me at my other website Love Hope Adventure for more DIY projects and methods.

What I Tell My Children About Santa

There are plenty of Christmas wars going on about whether or not to promote Santa and Elf on the Shelf or not. Some people say that it is wrong to tell your kids that there is a man in a big red suit that brings them gifts. That this is really a form of lying that will scar their children.

Others say that it is part of Christmas to put an Elf on the Shelf out every day or promote Santa. If you don't, then you are doing a disservice to your children.

The Reason Santa Doesn't Stop Here

I have a pretty anti-climactic reason as to why I do not teach my children there is a Santa Clause. You can read the full post HERE. Instead of using my creativity to come up with fun ideas for Elf on the Shelf or fantastic Santa stories, I focus my attention on making homemade gifts. 

What I Tell My Children About Santa

Earlier today, I was asked what I tell my children about Santa, especially since a lot of their friends believe in him. This was a bigger issue when my kids were younger, and didn't quite understand why everyone kept asking them what Santa was going to bring them. 

I told my kids that some parents tell their children that Clause is real, as a way to play a game with them. I would explain that he was a fun character that we could think about and watch on television. I also shared that St. Nick was a real man that actually went around and put a gift in children's shoes. 

He is a fun and benevolent character. He isn't banned in our house. We just don't put on a big charade to make our kids thing he brings them presents. We take the credit for the few toys they get each year. 

What I Tell Parents When They Get Mad That My Children Don't Believe in Santa

I wish I could tell you how many times I have had adults look at my kids with a scowl when they say they don't believe in santa. Immediately, adults would instruct my children not to tell the other kids around them or it would spoil Christmas for their friends. 

Of course, the adults would continue on and tell me I needed to make sure that my kids weren't going around telling all of their friends that old St. Nick wasn't real. How dare I not play along with the unwritten rule of not spilling the beans about St. Nick. 

My response to that was: if my children can cause doubt in their child by just saying that santa wasn't real, then they weren't doing a good enough job convincing them he was. 

Really, I can't keep my children from telling others what they believe in. I'm not going to stop my kids from speaking their minds. 

I'm not against Santa or Elf on the Shelf. If you'll read the blog post I linked to, then you'll see that my reason for not bothering with it has nothing to do with a religious or moral position. I love Christmas and seeing other celebrate in the ways that make them feel excited.