55.068% of the Year Has Passed

55.068% of the year has passed.

The first half of the year has passed. The optimistic memories of New Year's resolutions have begun to fade and the projection of the year 2011 has begun to set in. Most often this time of the year is rejected as the slump to get over the hill back to the new beginning of a new year. The summer is fading, you never went on the vacation you said you would you didn't save the money you wanted to. Before you know it December will be here and you will be praying for the "holiday" season to be over so you can "get back on your feet" in the New Year.

Every day is a self evaluation day. Daily goals assessed, weekly goals processed and monthly goals analyzed. The optimism that is generally fueled by the New Year and the empty promises that it generates shouldn't be running on E half way through the year. Optimism and hope are not seasonal feelings. Not just saved for when the world tells you it's time for a new beginning.

The New Year, marks just that a new year, NOT a new you! The only person that can establish a New You is You, and you have to decide this on your own terms. Not on the terms or in the mirror of someone else. The problem with this mid year slump is that we look back and see all the missed opportunities on the plans we set for ourselves. We ate way to much at BBQ's that's why we still weigh the same or possibly more. This kind of logic is unhealthy and detrimental to the enjoyment of life.

If we only set goals for ourselves, halfheartedly and intoxicated, it will be difficult to stick to them. The goals often established in the New Year hold no consequence, but a verbal signature that you may or may not have spoken to someone to hold us accountable. If the New Year is your starting point for a New You, the process is life long. Short term goals and mid-year evaluations do not dictate your progress.

Progress is determined by the effort and motivation that you put in yourself to keep going. Although you may fail you learn your mistakes and plan to do better the next time. Progress is not waiting for January to reset yourself to do the things you have been wanting to do for some time now.

55.068% of the year has passed, a percentage that we will never get back. It may have been the best half year of your life or the worst, but remember it is just a half year. 201 days out of a journey that is indefinite. Don't let a fraction of your year determine the rest of your life. If you want to do better, find the resources to help guide you in the direction of where you want to be. Seek out support in the areas that you desire, speak your goals out loud and be held accountable for them.

Learn from the mistakes of many resolutions that have failed. Don't resolve yourself to resolutions, evolve yourself in effective evaluations. So today as you look back on the 55.068%; evaluate your possible failures or successes. It's not the resolution that changes you, it's the motivation and hope of changing the person you are. Change doesn't come in a year, it doesn't come in four (ask Obama), change is a lifetime. Don't be so hard on yourself in this 55.068%