We know the only constant in life is CHANGE. Given that, I do like to sit down quarterly and reassess where I have been, where I am, and where I am going. Guess what? January is the start of a new quarter!! Small goals, like the ones that I am talking about below, are absolutely doable and attainable on the path of life. Below are some ways to make small changes or tweak your current life intentions.

(1) Resolve to live in the moment!
(This is one I have to remind myself of over and over again. How about you?)

If we spend time in the past regretting things that went wrong, or that happened to us, we feel bad. Period! The past is done and cannot be changed. If we fear the future we feel bad. Key word here is FEAR. The future is an unknown and worrying about it is just a false sense of control. (Feel the fear and do the action anyway if you can’t shake it altogether). The now is the only time that we can truly participate and we are in control of being conscious in the present moment.

Putting it in to practice
When you are going throughout your day, direct your thoughts to naming what you are doing right now. “Right now, I am typing this newsletter.” “Right now I feel the keys under my fingers.” “Right now, I am sitting in a chair.” “Right now, it feels good to be productive.”

(2) Find the humor in the “right now” situation. HA!
Humor is a skill and a high functioning coping mechanism. Isn’t is great to have a laugh, or be around someone who makes you laugh? If you are frustrated in traffic, think of something funny even if it is ironic.

Putting it into practice: 
Just smile (even a fake smile can trick your brain) and see if it makes you feel a bit less grumpy. (Studies support that this works!) Try belly laughing in the car, or right now in this moment. (Again, fake it! That is ok. Your brain will still respond positively). Go ahead, try it! You might just make yourself giggle for real! This is particularly funny if someone else is in the car with you and you just go for it! They might look at you like you’ve lost it, but who hasn’t once in a while.
Another way to put it into practice is to do something for someone else. The other day, I was in a store and asked for an exception to be made. A manager came over and approved it. I gave her a $5 thank you, Starbucks gift card. (I keep them in my purse for just this type of occasion).

Go ahead and make someone else happy; smile at the cashier, give a compliment to the barrista, send a quick “I am thinking of you today” text. Taking any action will make you feel just a wee bit happier or even a lot happier.

(3) Surrender to “What Is” in any given moment!
Life is what is happening to you as you are making plans! Don’t know where that quote comes from but I love it, especially when I am trying to make things go my way and I forget to Let go and Let God! I am not saying don’t plan, but when things go sideways maybe stop and see if that detour might not be a better direction for you.