People can change, but it takes dedication to creating a new way of living, a new of way seeing yourself, of relating to your world.  We want to change habits, we need to look a the very core of how our old habits were created.  We made them for a reason, whether we know it or not.  Our actions are a direct result of the culmination of our beliefs.  And our subconscious doesn't make mistakes.  When we decide not do things that we know are good for us, there's often an underlying issue that supports our decisions.  

Have you asked yourself, "Does this new goal of mine fit with how I see myself?"

Do you believe at your core that you are a lazy person? Or, do you believe at your core that you are an active person who's always looking for the next adventure, or way to get your body moving? 

These beliefs about yourself really make a difference in motivation.  If you see yourself as a lazy person, going to the gym or running that mile in the morning feels like you are lying to yourself.  Your goal is incredibly hard to sustain if it's not in alignment with how you see yourself.

The key to making your goals or resolutions become a part of who you are is to change how you see yourself.  

If you believe yourself to be a successful person, you push that extra few hours at work to really hustle, if you believe yourself to be a fit active person, you hold yourself higher, walk taller, put those gym clothes on easier.  If you believe yourself to be a friendly loving person, you send that extra email to check in with your friends, or that phone call to tell your mom you love her.

Watch yourself, see what your thoughts are during the day.  See how you talk to yourself and what you expect from yourself.  Few people take the time to really check in and see what their own thoughts about themselves are.  If you pay attention you really start to see what those beliefs are that you hold about yourself, and why you make those decisions you make.  

Write a story about yourself, describe yourself to someone who doesn't know you, you'll start to see the way you see yourself, and this may give you insightful hints about why you may or may not be keeping those resolutions.

Now, rewrite that story how you want to see yourself, start to make decisions about the kind of person you are, this starts to instill a new way of living, a new way of experiencing your world, and a new way to keep those resolutions today and from now on.  Make them life changes!

They may feel completely gone, and there may be no conceivable way to ever see or hear from them again. Whether they have died or simply left your life for some other reason, acting as if they have died and no longer exist is like pretending that your arm doesn't work and then proceeding to ignore it.

Writing people off, because you don't believe in an afterlife, or you can't stand to not have them around creates a grief in your unconscious and conscious mind that is nearly impossible to heal.  Believing that they are gone makes your heart and soul suffer, causing emotional and physical illness.

We are all connected in the beautiful fabric of this tapestry called life.  All the people in your life have a place in your soul.  They fill a space, they complete a picture, they are there for a reason.  When we lose someone in this earthly realm they none-the-less still play that role in our lives.  Their energy and memory stay with us and will play a significant role in our soul for eternity.  

When we replace the feeling of loss with the understanding of infinite connection, we realize that we have never lost this person at all, for they still play that vital role in our lives that they always did when we could see, hear and touch them.  In acknowledging that role they play in our lives and the truth that they can never be replaced, we become whole again.  The grief becomes unnecessary and our sadness lifts as we feel the truth of their lasting presence.

So whether someone you love has died physically or metaphorically, continue to acknowledge them in your life because they are very much still a part of you.  Continue to talk to your loved ones, even after they are gone from your tangible life.  Share your experiences with them even if they are still alive but far away or unreachable.  If you are separated from this person and cannot connect with them, remember you were never disconnected in the first place.  Feel them in your body and in your heart, because they are and always will be a part of you.