I have been reading a book (among about 10 others 
) called This Year I Will by MJ Ryan. The sub-title, if you will, is How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True. I've been itching for a "project" for a while now, so I think I'm going to go back to the beginning and involve you all in this (if you want to be, that is) 
and go bit by bit, allowing for self-reflection, comments from others, and participation from fellow "activists" (those who wish to take an active role in changing something about themselves).
The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.
-Japanese proverb
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
-Aristotle
So, here's your first assignment:
1. What changes would you currently like to make? What resolutions do you want to finally keep? What dreams do you want to make into reality? Make a list of everything you want to do in the next few years.
- Eat more healthfully (get rid of the additives, flour and sugar while adding more organic produce and hormone-free meat) - 1
- Lose weight - 1
- Get more exercise - 1
- Drink more water - 1
- Relax more - 1
- Get better sleep - 1
- Get a new job - 1
- Move out west - 4
- Replace my negative outlook and self-talk with positive - 2
- Paint the house (interior) - 2
- Get a deck - 2
2. Beside each one, write how many years you think it will take to achieve that goal. (If you think it'll be a matter of months, use 1 year.)
Going back over my list, it looks like several can be lumped together and some might result as a natural consequence of attaining others.
3. Circle the top four one-year goals that you want the most.
- Eat more healthfully
- Lose weight
- Relax more
- Get a new job
4. Write down some of the things you may need to do that you don't want to in order to make these goals happen.
- Eat more healthfully: reduce consumption of my comfort foods; try new/different foods; spend more time cooking; spend more time going to farmer's markets, etc. to get the food
- Lose weight: give up my comfort foods; exercise; prepare more than one meal at meal times; eat foods other than what the family eats; stop eating out
- Relax more: give up the idea that I should be able to do it all; spend less time getting things done
- Get a new job: interview, interview, interview
5. Choose the goal that you are willing to do the hard things for.
At least this one I can involve the family in. I want to make sure we all live to be healthy and happy in our later years. Besides, I guess spending more time cooking wouldn't be a totally bad thing - especially if I can get Kadie involved. And, like I said, I may meet some of my other goals simply by following this one.
Preparing to change
Once you have your one goal picked out, spend a day with this thought:
Do I really, really want this?
The book gives the example of Oprah and her weight loss. She obviously really, really wants to lose weight and keep it off. No matter how many setbacks, discouraging photos and years have passed or occurred, she keeps working on her original goal.
Is your goal something you're willing to sacrifice (possibly many things) for? If you don't want it badly enough, in the long run, it's not gonna work, so give it some thought.