A Different New Year’s Resolution: GET BRIGHT!

As we head into the new year, we put away the glittering decorations and twinkling lights of the holiday season and set our sights on the goals we’d like to achieve in the coming months. Sometimes, the energy at this time can feel a bit heavy; the fun is over, and it is time to work.

I believe this does not have to be true. We can keep the positive spirit with us all year long, if we choose to do so. In fact, keeping this positive spirit is the best resolution you can set for yourself in the new year. So, try putting this simple resolution at the top of your list of resolutions: GET BRIGHT!

“Get bright” may seem too simple if you are used to setting goals like “lose weight” or “quit smoking,” but it is really a very important goal that can help you achieve many other things in your life. And, more importantly, it will make you a happier person that grows easily and finds joy in almost every day you live.

But you may wonder, “How can I just ‘get bright’? What about all of my problems and all the crises in the world?” A truly bright and vibrant person does not wait for circumstances to be perfect. Happiness is a choice, and you can make that choice now. Just like you can become angry or sad instantly in response to something you see or experience, you become happy instantly, too. You do not need to wait for something good to happen—doing well in your career, getting a new car, or achieving a goal. You can be happy right here, right now.

Focusing on your “brightness” is a great way to change your energy toward positivity, and to start to turn problems into solutions. No matter how difficult a problem is, negativity—sadness, depression, anger, outrage, envy, and so on—never helps you achieve anything. On the other hand, a person who is upbeat and positive always has value and can make contributions. A bright person has more energy to get things done, they enjoy the moments of their lives more, and they also attract others who can help, too. After all, who would you rather be around: a smiling, shining person or someone always down in the dumps?

Every single person in this world can be bright, regardless of their personality type or social status. This brightness comes from the everlasting part of them that transcends all else—the soul or True Self. This is like a light that shines out to the world through our bright smiles and twinkling eyes. It is up to us to turn our light up bright enough to shine out on the world. If we do, we will give great hope to others as well as ourselves.

In the new year, many people get bogged down in a long list of resolutions, most of which they may not keep. I think you can keep all of those if you like but make “GET BRIGHT” your number one priority. If you do, you will find that all that you need or desire will come to you more easily.

For example, imagine a person who has tried year after year to lose weight. Perhaps they make a clear plan for regular exercise and a low-calorie diet, as they have many times before, or they try out some new diet regimen that’s popular in the moment. Typically, this works out fine and the pounds come off, until she feels stressed out or too busy to continue. She “cheats” on the diet, and then feels like a failure, which makes her want to eat even more to feel better. This is the cycle for most habits we fail to change: we set a goal, we hit an obstacle, we feel bad about ourselves, and we return to the unhealthy behavior. It’s the same for anything we want to change, including relationships, finances, procrastination, and so on.

Focusing on your brightness as your primary goal will help you break this cycle by keeping you positive about yourself and about the process of change. Instead of feeling depressed and viewing yourself as a failure, you will feel gratitude for what you can learn and you will be able to say, “I can do it!” as you begin again. And, it will help you achieve new things, too. If you have something specific you would like to accomplish, keeping bright is the best way to find a way over the obstacles you will face. In fact, it is only negativity that ever stands between us and the achievement of our dreams.

Whenever I’ve experienced disappointments, failures, or challenges on my journey, I was able to get through them and change the situation by choosing to remain bright. I have no doubt that I could not have had success if I’d focused on the negative events, becoming sad or resentful about them. I could choose brightness because I know who I am, and I keep that bright light at the forefront no matter what.

So, please, whatever you want to be in this world, always remember who you are: a bright light in this world. This is so important for your own growth and for everyone else around you. You will face difficulty; that’s inevitable. You will at times have very good reason to be angry, sad, or depressed. You may even want to quit. When that happens, just tell yourself, “GET BRIGHT!” and keep moving forward toward your highest vision.