Making Commitments for Lifelong Changes
Each new year we can look in the mirror and decide to make a significant positive change in our life.
By Colleen K Pulley
It is difficult to realize that already a new year has arrived. The stores will have put out their last year’s goods, slashing the prices, in hopes of getting a small return on their unsold inventory. They know that before the end of January, the new inventory will begin arriving. Businesses will cut their losses, and hope that this year they will hit more of the trends that increase their profit. It is a part of being in business.
Let’s keep that thought in mind and turn to our personal lives. It is a different approach. We have a more difficult time cutting our losses and preparing ourselves for a different game plan in life. We let our emotions color our judgement. We carry habits, attitudes, and relationships from one year to the next. Sometimes these things are so intrenched in our lives, they cannot be removed easily or quickly without doing more harm than good.
Here is something interesting to note. When a person decides to turn and face the fact that they need to change something in their lives, they have an increased probability that they will actually succeed in doing this. This is the power of commitment.
When I was taking a graduate class on addictions, my professor had the class members attend different support groups. I attended an AA group that met at the university. It was interesting to listen to individuals talk about their alcoholism. These people came from all walks of life. Some of them were uneducated, others held doctorate degrees. Some came from supportive families; others had been abused from childhood by their addictive parents. Some had tried repetitively to overcome their addictions and had failed.
What was interesting to me was this. I never heard one person say they were able to achieve any success in their battle against their addictions until they “Hit the Bottom”. This was the moment when they looked at themselves, and said “I can’t go any lower, and I must face this now.” It is at this point that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This is the point where you must accept responsibility for the things that are wrong in your life. Maybe it isn’t something “Life-Threatening” but an attitude or behavior, or pride, or selfishness. These things may be just as important to overcome for you. Remember this.
Most of us have never had the types of stumbling blocks to overcome that the people I listened to during those AA meetings. However, there are certain things that each of us must face in life. For some it may be addictions, for others, abuse, or pornography. Some of us must overcome depression, anxiety, loneliness, loss of a loved one, or divorce. For me it was diabetes.
I come from a family where both my parents, and three of my siblings are insulin dependent diabetics. Some of my family members are very compliant while others are not. When I was diagnosed in October 2010, I knew that if I wanted to have the most success with treating my diabetes, I had to commit to following my diet, increasing my exercise, take my medications, and be compliant. I must look at myself as if I am an alcoholic, or an addict. I want to do everything I can to take care of my problem.
Let’s go back to the New Year. Maybe this is the year you will look in the mirror and realize you MUST make a change in your life. I hope you realize that you are not alone. All of us at some time come to this point, if we want to truly make a change in the path we are walking down. Do not be hesitant to discuss your challenge with others like family members or close friends. If you need a support group, look on the internet, or in the telephone book. You’ll be surprised to find there are others out there who are working on changing their lives too.
After identifying what you need to do, decide and act on it. This will require effort and patience. You will stumble at times but get back up and continue. With time the challenge diminishes and eventually victory is achieved. This may come in the form of something changed or eliminated or merely brought under control. In all cases you will be more in charge of your life and happier as a result.
Think about what I have said, and good luck in your endeavors. Until next year... Colleen
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