Take Time to Appreciate What's Right with You

Now's the time when everyone is talking about Change. New Year's brings with it the pressure to come up with a list of things that you want to improve about your lifestyle, your health, your success, or your behaviors.

All this focus on self-improvement has some people highly motivated to jump on the wagon, overhaul their lives and, hopefully, feel better about it all this time next year. But, one side-effect to all this self-exploration is that there is a very fine line between self-exploration and self-criticism. So, while you are busy trying to figure out what you want to change about your life, take time to appreciate what's right with you.

Here are 5 ways to appreciate what's right with you and to bring some balance to your Resolution planning:

1) Make a list of 10 things you like about yourself. Think about the unique features that make you who you are and why you value those things about yourself.

2) Write down 5 things that you have been doing that make you happy/healthy/successful. Make a resolution to continue doing those things.

3) Talk to people close to you and ask them to recall their favorite memory with you. Focus on what made that time special for both of you.

4) Write a letter of gratitude for all the good things that have happened in the past year and all the positive things that are carrying over to the new year.

5) For every New Year's Resolution you make about changing something about yourself and your life, bring your awareness to one good thing about yourself that you look forward to continuing.

The bottom line is - Be Nice To Yourself!