Happy New Year! Over the next few days, I am going to expand upon a couple of items from yesterdays blog: “Top 5 Ways To Make 2012 Your Healthiest Year Yet”.

I feel the nutritional 2012 recommendations I made are fairly self-explanatory (i.e. eat organic, read labels and exercise). However the more emotionally based “prescriptions” deserve some teasing out.

Today I want to expand upon the Focus On Feeling Good resolution.

What exactly does that mean?

For me it means seeing the upside in any situation–as hard as that may be. From something as significant as the death of my father to stressing over simple things like organizing my schedule in preparation for writing book #2, my primary goal is to feel good.

I do that by taking everything in baby steps. By this I mean- when it comes to lifes stressors or obstacles: start small. Break things down into digestible parts and ask yourself: what's the outcome here that would make me feel best. You need to envision where it is you want to be. How would that feel? Focus on the feeling good aspect and act from that place.

Even if its a quarrel with your significant other, ask yourself what us your desired outcome. Is it peace? Is it happiness? Is it getting your way? To me peace feels emotionally better than getting my own way. So, focus on that feeling of peace. Get it?

Another aspect to focusing on feeling good is saying yes. Allowing yourself to let go of the resistance you've put around the situation. Think about it: an uphill battle is so much effort. Instead…let go. Of course I didn't want my father to die and I miss him desperately but what can I do about it? Wallow and cry or accept it and live my life in a way that honors him. I am choosing to live courageously because it feels so much better than hanging onto my sadness and grief.

To sum up– feel good in any situation by:

*breaking the “issue” down into digestible pieces

*ask yourself, “what outcome or resolution will make me feel good?”

*focus on the emotions you want to feel…not necessarily the “object” or specifics, rather focus on the feeling. For example when you say something like: I want more money or I want a new job focus on how you would feel with more money (ie free or happier) rather than the specific outcome.

*and, by all means do not focus on what you don't want or on the negative feelings like: im so stressed out every day because I hate my job instead focus on the little things of the job that make you feel good. Focus on how you want to feel…and let go of how you don't want to feel.

Be kind to yourself and feel good about it. You deserve it! Happy new year!!