As New Year’s Eve approaches, many people are mulling over their resolutions and deciding what their “New year, new me” is going to look like.

Of course, this is the subject of countless jokes and memes because many people vow to lose weight or get fit—the top 2 resolutions year in and year out—only to throw in the towel by January 15^th.

I’ve got to tell you, I have never been one to make resolutions. 

I guess I’ve just always felt that it’s a lot easier to adhere to smart, physical- and mental-health supporting principles all year long—then you don’t have the pressure and unpleasant task of reinventing yourself every January 1^st.

Here are the top 5 principles I strive to practice 365 days a year:

1. Focus on what you can control.

For some “control-oriented” people, this may be a challenge!  But truly, you can only control what you can control. 

Accept that and let go of everything else.  You’ll be amazed at the peace of mind you’ll achieve.

2. Vow to put kindness into the world every day.

This can be something as simple as striking up a pleasant chat with the grocery store cashier or letting someone in on the highway that is trying to change lanes.

Being kind is never a mistake.  Even if the person to whom you’ve extended the kindness doesn’t appreciate it, it still speaks volumes about your character.

3. Forgive others.

Way back when I used to teach religious education to high schoolers in the early 2000s, one of the most important lessons I had to convey to them was the fact that forgiveness DOESN’T mean that the bad thing that somebody did to you is OK.

Instead, forgiveness means that you release the emotional impact and anger that you may be harboring as a result.  Forgiveness is for your benefit—not the offender’s.

I’ll tell you a little story about forgiveness in my life.

While I have mentioned in my past writings that my Dad died of a massive heart attack at age 58 (when I was 15), that’s not all that was going on.

You see, in addition to having heart disease, my Dad was also an alcoholic. 

All that meant to me as a kid was a LOT of anger and resentment toward him because I could never have friends over and we never did things as a family.  Plus he would pick fights with my Mom or brother when he was drunk.

What I didn’t realize then (but do now as an adult in the health field) was my Dad was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

He was a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy during WWII and witnessed unspeakable horrors as his ship was hit in the South Pacific.

Unfortunately like many other vets in that time era, my Dad chose alcohol as his coping mechanism. 

And when I finally came to that realization and chose to forgive my father, I can’t begin to describe the flood of relief I felt.

4. Think for yourself and question everything.

Just because someone says something is true doesn’t necessarily make it so.  When in doubt, do your own research and follow the money.

A perfect example here is the mainstream news. 

The media receive at least 70 percent of their advertising revenue from the pharmaceutical industry, so there’s no way in the world you will ever hear truly objective reporting about any pharmaceutical product.

Not gonna happen.  Way too much money at stake.

Pursue alternative, independent sources of information.  I promise you’ll be surprised at what you learn.

And don’t be afraid to question your doctor either!  Just because he or she recommends a certain treatment doesn’t mean it’s right for you.  Ask questions, get other opinions and see if there are alternatives you can agree on. 

5. Take care of your body—it’s the only one you’ve got.

Make eating healthier something you do 365 days a year—not just from January 1^st – January 15^th. 

If you need some help and want to see how tasty healthy foods can really be, check out my nutrition-based books: Great Taste No Pain, Great Taste No Gluten and Want to Lose Weight? Stop Dieting!

Or if you prefer some one-on-one advice, book a Free 30-minute consultation with me! 

Give your body whatever additional help it needs with proper supplementation.  Check out our fine line of supplements that address nutritional deficiencies, digestion, immune health, inflammation control, better sleep and more!

Lastly, work in some form of regular exercise.  Our bodies were designed to move, and the more yours does so, the more likely you will stay trim and healthy for a lifetime.

You don’t have to get fancy—even brisk walking counts, and just about anyone can do that.

I wish you a safe, happy and healthy 2022, and may God bless you and your loved ones.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia