Chips, Cookies, Candy, Cursing and Cocktails...

In a quick survey of my regular ezine readers last week, I asked what they preferred to give up rather than what new habits or resolutions they hoped to start in 2010. They chose to say "Never again in 2010" to the 5 C's!

Though my survey was unofficial, the majority of those who responded said they were ready to give up overeating the 3 "C's"--chips, cookies, and candy. These three culprits can often be traced to food binges, procrastinating, irritability, high cholesterol, and poor self-esteem. I agree. Why not give up chips, cookies, and candy for a few weeks or months and see what results? My guess is that you'll experience weight loss, lowered cholesterol, self-control in other areas of your life (as well as food management), and emotional peace. These aren't such bad traits to develop, are they?

The fourth "C" that folks on my survey wanted to "quit" in 2010 was cursing. Again, I consider this a noble goal, especially if you have children or are around them (that's most of us). Of course, if you you choose to quit dropping verbal bombs, then you'll have to replace those phrases with something more "G" rated. Perhaps this is the year to come up with a humorous statement that expresses your angst, but makes someone laugh rather than cringe?

Finally, the fifth "C" that many said, "Never again in 2010," was to cocktails. Alcohol, of course, is something that some of us (myself included) must say "bye-bye" to because we're addicts (or the children and grandchildren of addicts). Others, like my husband, realize that giving up alcohol is "good" for the whole family. So, as in my case, my husband actually became my sponsor and sobriety partner on our honeymoon...thus 32 years of marriage and sobriety this month! Maybe this is your year to give up something like cocktails or cigarettes for yourself or someone else?

Chips, cookies, candy, cursing, and cocktails certainly make for an easy-to-remember list, but more significantly, does making such a specific resolution have any chance of succeeding? A recent survey suggests the following:

40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolutions each year.

The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
- past the first week: 75%
- past 2 weeks: 71%
- after one month: 64%
- after 6 months: 46%

People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't explicitly make resolutions.

So why not resolve to stop something old and tired and futile (maybe even harmful) this year rather than start something new? Please let me know what makes your list of "Never Again in 2010!"

Be encouraged,

Becky