Life Fit Chat: Accountability in '08

Life Fit Chat with That's Fit Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis brings conversation provoking tidbits to your table, served up with a touch of spice! Byte-sized information that pack some punch, brought to you every Wednesday and Thursday!

Want to make '08 great? If so, you better hold yourself accountable to your resolutions. So many times, we don't tell anyone about the things we so desperately want to change in our lives because we are afraid we won't really have the strength or will power to stick to it. We don't tell anyone and then when we fail no one even knows we were trying.

A good friend of mine recently stopped smoking. When I noticed she had not smoked the entire evening we were together, I mentioned it. She said, "Yea, I even hate to mention it; but, I have not had a cigarette in five days." I was thrilled and told her so. What came next not only shocked me, but made me sad as well. She said, "Well, I really have not told anyone, because if I end up not being able to do it I don't want everyone to know I failed."

Of course, I was thinking ... then tell everyone, get their support and hold yourself accountable. There is no shame in failure, but the fear of letting those you love down can certainly be a mighty motivator. The key to successful, and motivational, accountability is to leave the naysayers out of the know. Only share your goals with people who love you, believe in you and will support you. There will always be those people who will try to tear you down and tell you that you will never make it. They will also say, "Good luck!" out of sarcasm not support. Luck plays no role in creating real change in your life ... just sheer will power, hard work and the support of those who love you.

So, go ahead and share the news. Hold yourself accountable in '08, and enter this new year as a new you!