Destination Inspiration

January 2008

A 'Resolutionary' Attitude

By Lisbeth Anne Marín

Motivational Speaker

Professional Development Consultant

The dawning of the first of the week, month or year can stimulate a desire to mark the start of a new plan or…dare I say it…resolution.  Now, I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions, in fact, I’ve found that they’re usually doomed to failure and exert undue pressure.  Yet all around us the numbering system has been rolled back to some invisible starting line generating either giddy anticipation or dread at returning to square one.  An element of expectation welcomes us to reevaluate our modus operandi at this time of year. 

However, I do believe this timed template of self assessment should be harnessed to our advantage.  Fresh ideas are more easily accepted; new approaches are received with less scrutiny, old ways can be abandoned without judgment or rationale.  Everybody’s doing it, so why not ride the wave and make some changes!  We must remember that the definition of life is change and growth.  After all, if you do what you did…you get what you got!  

While presenting my seminars and training sessions I frequently meet people that are perplexed about their lot in life or the treatment they’ve received from various significant others at home or work.  I offer them another fundamental principle to consider… ‘We teach people how to treat us’ and once they’ve learned how much guff we’ll take, it’s difficult to break the habit!

As a self employed entrepreneur I am ever mindful of the role my mood plays on success.  It’s been my experiences that occasional dark moods are the place where I recognize the need for change.  It’s enlightening to grasp that in my darkness the seeds of change germinate and as a rule, I emerge with a fresh perspective.  Hey, life is tough and your ability to absorb adversity and come out swinging is the true measurement of success. 

Allow me to offer one of my favorite mantras…’Life is about deciding what you will allow for yourself.’  Any limitations you experience are anchored in personal beliefs about your abilities. 

You see folks, it’s about having the fortitude and faith to withstand the tempest and maintain our inherent sense of self-worth.  If your happiness is hinged upon tranquil transformations and sunlit scenarios you are probably in for the fight of your life. 

Ponder your past for clues about what really crafts your most luminous disposition.  Delight in the dreams you once had for yourself.  Perhaps it was to be your own boss or be a teacher, an actor, a rock star, a forest ranger or whatever image materializes in your ‘resolutionary’ reflections.  Sure, you have to earn a living but if you earnestly pursue your dreams and work originates from a place of real interest and fulfillment, you will be at the starting point of a resolution you can actually live by.

Lisbeth Anne Marín is a Motivational Training Consultant and Public Speaker specializing in interpersonal and organizational development skills.  She presents a wide array of staff development training programs, motivational seminars and interactive human resource workshops.  To view the topics on which training programs can be provided, please visit the website, www.lisbethanne.com or call Lisbeth at 910.867.3163 to discuss your training goals.  The website also features a gallery of award winning designs along with a schedule of complimentary Business Seminars that are presented to the public through the Center for Business and Industry at F.T.C.C.