Page 5 - Boca Exposure - January '20

Boca Exposure, Page 5
Reality Check √… Healthy Answers On

Living And Loving Life: ‘Make This Year The Best Yet!’

By Dale Brown, B.S., healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached weight. Not only does she look terrific, her confidence level
M.A., C.E.C. Dale is a at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. increased along with her self-esteem.
motivational speaker who What is it about setting and reaching a goal that makes For years my husband and I have carved out time
has spent many years as a you feel good? Maybe it’s the sense of satisfaction that at year’s end to reflect … not just on the present but all
Certified Life Coach and has you’ve put your mind to something and made it happen. the years we’ve been together. When I was working and
written numerous articles Accomplishing something that really matters to you fills traveling for business, my yearly resolutions revolved
and e-books relating to self- your life with purpose and helps you be happier and around making more money, getting a promotion or a yearly
improvement and ways to content. Some people are more successful than others in bonus. Now, those things are part of my past, not my future.
build a high-performance what they set out to do. For example, marathoners, elite Our New Year’s ritual begins by gathering all our previous
team. Her education and athletes, authors, and anyone who takes a project from start years’ resolutions, then going to a local bar where we can
years of experience in to finish experiences that sense of satisfaction that comes spend a good deal of time without being asked to leave.
physical fitness and training with completing a task. We look back on many years, places we wanted to go,
of elite athletes has enabled her to sharpen her knowledge Last year our daughter, Jessica, made a resolution to things that were important to us at the time, and “promises”
in many health-related areas. The following is one in a eat mindfully and exercise more often in an effort to lose we’d like to make for the coming year. The goal is to finally
series of columns devoted to many topics that deal with 50 pounds. You can imagine how proud she was of herself check off lingering goals from years ago, or in some cases
the mind/body connection and the importance of living a when, at the end of a year she had reached her desired retire them for good. As we start another year, I reflect on
my achievements and what is still left undone. It seems, as
we grow older, the idea of a bucket list becomes more and
more real.
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM There was a time when setting a lofty goal seemed
doable, and easy to reach with the right amount of time
and effort. Yet, as I look back I can see a pattern that tells
me that although my intentions were good, I didn’t always
hit the mark on all fronts. I can see where I might have
taken a detour, or the goal I set for myself was impossible
to attain. This is true of many folks who start out the New
Year motivated to improve some facet of their life, to break
an unfavorable habit, or fulfill some life-changing event.
You, too, may begin the year with good intentions, then
lose momentum as the months move along.
What’s the secret to making a resolution and sticking
to it? There are coaching strategies I have learned that are
designed to help people set goals and reach the finish line.
If you are contemplating your resolutions for the coming
year, try using this simple acronym (S.M.A.R.T.) to keep
HOLD THE DATE you on the path to success.
Thursday, February 27, 2020 S. M. A. R. T.

S - Specific – What is it you’re trying to do? To be
St. Andrews Country Club, Boca Raton specific is to be exact, precise, explicit and detailed. Often,
goals are so general in nature that you can’t put your finger
on what it is you’re striving for. To say you would like to
be happier is extremely broad and abstract. What does it
mean for you to be happy? Write down every detail of what
you really want.
M - Measurable – How will you know when you get
there? What gets measured gets done. If you want to lose
weight, what is your target? How much time will it take
to lose the pounds you’d like to lose. Narrow it down,
for instance, “I want to lose eight pounds by the end
of two months.” At the end of the second month assess
your progress. If you’ve lost some but not all, reset your
timeframe. If you haven’t lost any, you may consider
seeking advice from an expert to help you along the way.
A -Achievable – How possible is it for you to reach this
goal? Sometimes, what you want is just not possible. You
may lack the resources, physical ability, drive, or support you
desire. It’s true that there are ways to work toward making a
goal achievable, but realizing your limitations is critical.
R - Realistic – How reasonable is it for you to accomplish
Siggy Flicker Lior Suchard this goal? Very often, people set goals that are too lofty. “I
Guest Speaker World-Renowned Israeli Mentalist want to climb Mt. Everest by the time I’m 55.” Although
this is a measurable goal, how realistic and achievable is it?
Unfortunately, many people set themselves up for failure
Event Chairs by reaching too high. When you set an unreachable target,

Ina Rae & Neil Fox Lori & Gregg Gottsegen you sabotage your own efforts to succeed.

T - Timely – When do you want to get there? A timeframe
provides a benchmark for you to refer to, like markers along
the way. They say that timing is everything, and in this
case it is. If you don’t set a timeline for achieving your
For more information, please call 561.835.0510 or objective you are more likely to lose incentive. Besides,
how else will you know when to celebrate? Rewards are
email boca-delray@afmda.org. great motivators, so don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the
back when progress is made.
There is an instinctive need for human beings to go after
All proceeds to support Magen David Adom, Israel’s ambulance, what makes them happiest. Setting a goal and reaching it is
blood-services, and disaster-relief organization. like winning a race. Why not try to make this year the best
yet? Make your New Year promises, but don’t forget to be
S.M.A.R.T, stay on track, and give yourself a little slack!

afmda.org