I may or may not know you personally, but I am thinking of you on this New Year’s Day. I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season.
I am thinking about you for two reasons. First, I want to thank you for subscribing to and reading my Newsletter. I do my best to send you information that can enhance and enrich your life and it gives me joy when I hear that something I have written about has helped someone.
Second, New Year’s is a time when many people make resolutions and goals to improve their lives. It can be both exciting and confronting to make these commitments, especially when “94% of us drop the ball on our commitments within two months, and only six percent follow through.” (2) (3)
If you are making New Year’s resolutions, it might be helpful to take a few moments to sit and close your eyes and envision what you would like to happen in 2026 in one or more areas of your life as you define them. This could be primary relationship, friends, family, career, finances, personal enrichment, travel, health, etc.
To avoid being overwhelmed by this future thinking, I recommend three concepts that may be helpful to you to achieve your goals and desires this year.
They are:
1. ‘What you focus on, grows.’ This is referenced by William James, the famous psychology professor from Harvard, who said: “My experience is what I agree to attend to” (1). Having the “intention” and “attention” for what you want can help you achieve your goals, while also increasing neuroplasticity.(9)
2. Optimism: Be a “Moderate” Optimist not an “Extreme” Optimist (1). Moderate or “realistic” (having a positive expectancy) optimists tend to have better physical and emotional health (5) (6) and do better financially and in careers.(7)
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity
An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”
–Winston Churchill (4)
3. Get out of your Comfort Zone: Stepping out of safety and security can cause “anxiety, uncertainty, and a little bit of fear” but stretching oneself can also foster growth and learning. If there is too much stress associated with this process, then step back, and break things down into smaller actions to get out of the “Panic Zone.”(8)
Making positive change can be uncomfortable but also incredibly rewarding. Please check out the excellent references below to empower you to achieve your goals and desires for 2026.
I wish you a beautiful, healthy, happy, abundant, and love filled year!
With warm regards,
Dr. Jill
References:
1. “The Surprising Science of Manifestation” by Nir Eyal. 10/1/2022.
2. What are New Year’s Resolutions and do they work? Mars Girolimon, 01/02/2025.
3. 5 Steps For The 94% Who Abandon Their New Year’s Resolutions. Bryan Robinson, PhD. 01/03/20204.
5. Optimism and Physical Health: A Meta-analytic Review
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Disclaimer: Please note that the content on this Newsletter does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a physician before making any medical, nutritional, or lifestyle changes recommended in this Newsletter.