Did you make any New Years resolutions?  About 75% of people nationally make resolutions and by the end of January they begin to fade away.  Some of the most common resolutions we’ve all heard are to lose weight, spend less and save more money, quit smoking, stay organized and spend more time with family.

I have three resolutions this year.  My first is to wear more patterns.  I’m such a solid person.  I like the classic and the simple.  Jewel colors mostly.  And black.  Well, it’s just so hard to commit to a pattern.  But I’m trying … in clothing, stationery, home decor and more.  I mean, why not?  Yes, I’m really going to try.

My second is to improve my stir fry skills.  Seriously.  It’s such a great, quick dinner.  But I have to figure out how to create tasty sauces that are on the healthy side.  No more jar sauces for me in 2016.

For my third resolution, inspiration came after watching a Ted Talk featuring Amy Cuddy recently.  The talk was featured on Sunday Morning on CBS-TV in December which is where I was introduced to it.  Have you heard it yet?  It’s really fabulous.  She discusses Body language and how it affects how others see us.  And, she explains, it may also change how we see ourselves.  Amy Cuddy is a Social psychologist and she shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

“We make sweeping judgments and inferences from body language, and those judgments can predict really meaningful life outcomes, like who we hire or promote, who we ask out on a date.”  And Cuddy notes, “When you pretend to be powerful, you are more likely to actually feel powerful.”  If you have a chance, watch the segment.  I think it’s important and can positively affect your life.  As Ms. Cuddy would say, “stand tall and remember who you are!”

So stand tall.  And wear patterns.  And enjoy some stir fry.  Happy 2016!

Best wishes,

Renee