Gratitude and appreciation will shift your focus from what is wrong to what is right. For example, what if, for the next 30 days, when you came home, you caught each person in your household doing something right and told them about it? How would that impact them? How would that affect your life?

Here are a few additional ways to make gratitude and appreciation your usual way of being:

1. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple “thank you” or note of appreciation. Handwritten thank you notes or notes of appreciation have a powerful and positive impact on those who receive them.
2. Count your blessings. Write or journal the things that you are grateful for on a weekly (or daily) basis.
3. Pay it forward. Look for ways to benefit others and look out for others. Check on your neighbors and connect with family and friends through calls, texts, or video means. Let them know why you appreciate them.

We can express gratitude through prayer and meditation. And, as you are grateful to others, remember to be kind to yourself and practice self-care.

The WOW Coalition is a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana, and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. For additional information, visit wayoutwestcoalition.org/resources or contact WOW Coalition Program Director Larry Tracey at (623) 208-3230 or email: larry@youth4youth.org

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As the new year unfolds, we find ourselves immersed in the timeless tradition of seeking a fresh start—a cultural practice that has spanned over 200 years in our Western society. Many Americans embrace the spirit of self-improvement, often manifested in the form of New Year’s Resolutions. As the calendar pages turn, we must introspectively inquire: Is this a refined and enhanced version of ourselves, or are we simply adhering to the status quo of yesteryear? Do our aspirations mirror those familiar hopes from the past – the desire to shed weight, contribute more to our communities, adopt healthier eating habits, quit smoking, consume less alcohol, escape the clutches of debt, and amass savings?

If your answer aligns with maintaining multiple unfulfilled resolutions, welcome to the Procrastinators Club, the world’s largest organization, boasting a membership of 98% of the population. The comfort lies in the fact that you’re not alone. 

Perhaps it’s time to reconsider the frequency of fresh starts. Beyond the grandeur of a new year, opportunities abound every month, every week, and even every day. The dawn of each morning and the commencement of each hour provide us with a chance for renewal. The abundance of opportunities invites us to break free from the Procrastinators Club’s grip. 

So, let’s entertain a revolutionary concept to kickstart the new year – craft a “Do Not Do List.” Constrain this list to 10 items, contemplating habits and behaviors that hinder personal growth. Are you spending excessive hours in front of the television? Indulging in post-dinner snacking on sweets? Overcommitting by perpetually saying yes to others? Hitting the snooze button habitually? Drowning in social media or texting? Succumbing to impulsive purchases? Oversleeping or battling sleep deprivation? Chronically tardy? Lacking a consistent exercise routine? 

Recognize that these habits bear consequences, hindering the pursuit of life’s dreams and goals. It’s time to break free from the allure of the Procrastinators Club. Begin with the first resolution on your “Do Not Do List”: DO NOT renew my membership in the Procrastinators Club. Elevate yourself beyond procrastination, embrace positive change, and let this be the year you stride confidently toward success. 

Author Larry Tracey is the Executive Director of Youth4Youth, author, speaker, and member of the WOW Coalition, a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana, and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use.

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We all have what we call the inner game, or Thought Habits, habitual ways of thinking. They allow us to either talk ourselves into or out of opportunities daily. Thought Habits also impact whether one’s thinking is positive or negative. Quotes are one of many ways people keep their thoughts positive. We are aspirational by nature, and quotes can help us see something in ourselves we want to change or serve as a reminder about who we want to become. For example, a quote by W. Clement Stone became an important belief and driving force in my life:

“To every disadvantage, there is a corresponding advantage. Find it!”

Maybe I saw the “find it” as more of a challenge. Mr. Stone’s quote has become an important part of my life. Imagine developing the thought habit of finding solutions. Self-confidence increases, stress is dramatically reduced, and deep inside, you know things will work out. Why? Because they always do.

When I heard Tony Robbins say, “Success leaves clues.” My realization – there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Learn from the masters, take what you learn, and use it to go further, faster, and easier through life. Once we take responsibility for our lives, we understand we can control our thinking and develop thought habits that assist us in winning the inner game. Henry Ford said it best,

“Think you can or think you can’t; either way, you will be right.”

Make this your mindset for life, and you will possess a belief that will instill confidence. You will also realize you now have the 1^st Key of Success – Right Thinking.

What quote motivates you the most?

The Knowledge of the Mind Becomes Knowledge of the Heart – 2^nd Key of Success

Many let their dreams die unlived. Many let the circumstances in life dictate their lifelong journey and end up as a victim of circumstance, never finding the 1^st Key of Success – Right Thinking.

Realizing you are different, you decide you want to make your life more than a dream. You want to make it your reality. But most importantly, you are becoming passionate about it. It is at this moment you will discover the 2^nd Key of Success, the Key of Passion. The moment when the knowledge of the mind becomes knowledge of the heart. It becomes an inner knowing, an inner belief, a driving force. While the first key deals with dreams, the second key is about turning those dreams into reality. Using the IT Formula is how to make the magic happens! And remember, if you ever lose your passion, go back to the 1^st Key of Success – thinking. You will find something has changed in your thinking.

What are you passionate about? What do you want your life to look like? Invest time in writing a list of your passions.

The 3^rd Key of Success

The 3^rd and final Key of Success is where the magic happens. We have introduced the 1^st Key of Success – Right Thinking and the 2^nd Key of Success – Passion. The first and second keys are combined through the 3^rd Key of Success. However, this is where many people fall short. They become victims of life’s circumstances that distract them and dictate their lifelong journey, and many of their dreams die unlived. But not you, for you have found the 3^rd Key of Success – Body Language. You understand the importance of daily habits and behaviors that serve you as you shed those habits and behaviors that hold you back. You realize:

Success is taking one or more daily action steps toward your goals.

In doing so, you gain momentum and confidence and develop the habit of success.

Here are vital habits and behaviors that will benefit you on your journey:

1. Always put your goals in writing.
2. As you begin your day, read one page from a book that points your mind in a positive direction.
3. Plan your tomorrow the night before.
4. As your day ends, write down your successes for the day and three things you are grateful for this day.

These are just a few ideas to get you moving, as Body Language is the 3rd Key of Success and is all about taking action. Making the 3 Keys of Success part of your lifestyle will make your success inevitable.

Author Larry Tracey is the founder of Youth4Youth. Y4Y develops success and leadership skills in youth and promotes school safety by treating everyone with respect. He serves as WOW Coalition Program Director, a prevention association that promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to problems caused by alcohol, marijuana, and Rx abuse by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. For additional information, visit Youth4Youth.org or WOWCoalition.org.

This publication was made possible by grant number H79TI083320 from SAMHSA. The views, opinions and content of this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of SAMHSA or HHS.

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Life takes lots of turns; many turns are out of our control, so once a person’s Anxiety and/or Depression are triggered, it is hard to be resilient. That trigger can cause a chain reaction for a person that has a Substance Use Disorder. Most of the time, resilience coping mechanisms are to be active or around positive people who care. There are also those people that require in-person interactions to stay positive and to keep moving forward. It is a real struggle to keep it together because we are forced to social distance and quarantine due to the pandemic.  It can be scary for some to just get out of bed.  People with invisible diseases like substance use disorder or depression get tired of being asked and hearing:

• Did you go to the doctor?
• Have you tried this?
• Have you tried that?
• I don’t know what else we can do for you…

People who suffer from these silent, invisible diseases are stronger than they realize, but even the strongest warrior can struggle daily. They must know and believe they aren’t alone. These warriors need your support, patience, and compassion. One coping mechanism that helps with these conditions can help one person and not another person or help with one situation and not help with a different situation. That is why it is so important to know yourself, to know what works for you. Now that 2021 is here, it is a great time to start fresh and decide to work on the most important person you know, YOU! You are AMAZING and can make it through that moment, that day, that crazy year. Let’s make 2021 a year not about avoiding life and the negative triggers but learning to thrive with life and finding positive triggers that come with life.

Ways to Develop Resilience Skills:

Self-Awareness: Helps you to know yourself better. Take time to recognize your strengths, weaknesses, different beliefs, and different emotions. Writing a personal inventory of strengths and weaknesses is a good starting point.

Inner Dialogue: Listen to your inner dialogue, which is your more dominant. Your inner critic or your inner hero, the I can or I can’t? Consciously choose which voice you will listen to in 2021.

Mindfulness: Helps you to recognize your emotional and mental state of mind as it increases and decreases. Pay attention to what affects your different states of mind. Mindfulness will help you embrace the things that make you happy.

Self-Care: Create a time and space for yourself with no distractions so you can focus on you—Journal about your day and the feelings you experienced. Life is busy, and many don’t take the time to do something good for themselves. Here are some self-care ideas: giving yourself a facial, get yourself a new outfit, or go for that scenic drive you have wanted to take. Get a different perspective on things by asking people you trust for advice in some situations.

Purpose: This is so important to embrace. You must realize YOU MATTER, YOU BELONG! You must shape your mindset and attitude that we have towards others, events, and experiences. Look for purpose in your faith, family, political party, or being a part of an organization. People must not remain overwhelmed; they must find their purpose to find their light and break through the darkness.

Positive Relationships: One of the most profound experiences we can have in our lives is our connection with other human beings. Having positive relationships with others, we will be happier and more fulfilled and feel supported, supportive, and connected. Even though we have to social distance and at times quarantine, try to find ways to nurture the relationships you have with family and friends. Because by having these positive, supportive relationships, you will feel healthier, happier, and fulfilled all-around.

Remember being resilient doesn’t mean that our hardships in life will go away. Life is hard for everyone; everyone faces loss, change, disappointment, and other challenges. Being more resilient means, you have better ways to cope with the different hardships thrown at you. I know many people thought 2020 would be their year to get everything they wanted, but that changed. So, we faced 2020 and got through it. You are still here, so say it loud and proud, “I MATTER, and I LOVE MYSELF!” Finally, 2021 is here, so let’s bounce back better and stronger than ever! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Author Alva Tovar is the Program Coordinator for the WOW Coalition. This prevention association promotes safe and healthy choices and responds to alcohol, marijuana, and Rx abuse problems by implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use. For additional information, visit http://www.wowcoalition.org/resources or email: alva.tovar@wowcoalition.org.

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