Good riddance to a grim, stressful 2014: Ebola, ISIS, disappearing planes, chokeholds, Ferguson, cop killings and Kim Kardashian’s naked butt. Let’s open our hearts to 2015 and make it a kinder year. When destructive things happen, human nature rebuilds with a powerful incentive to reach equilibrium. For example, just recently my friend’s house burned to the ground; ironically after a beautiful and lengthy renovation, they were just about ready to move in! When she told me what had happened, she calmly said, “We are grateful to be alive. We have our memories and my daughters have photographs of my art and simple treasures. We will rebuild it better!” Let these words spark the tone for 2015.

Here are 5 simple ways to be better in 2015:

1. Instead of talking, interrupting and judging make it a priority to really listen. This is how good compromises, strong relationship bridges and improvements actually happen.
   
   
2. Time to stop oversharing on social media and exaggerating how happy you are to others. Like Charles Dickens said, we all have buried treasure, so let’s quietly revel in our private moments, for example, a marriage proposal. And while I am on the subject, can we stop having flash mobs at marriage proposals?
   
   
3. 2015 will be the year of the leg. You will walk your stress away and exercise smarter to strengthen your legs to move you in the direction of a new happiness. By the way strong is the new skinny.
   
   
4. Goodbye fad diets and buongiorno to the sunny and sustainable Mediterranean meal plan! Food and mood are interrelated as well as the immune system. You really are what you eat: What are you artificial or natural?
   
   
5. Don’t look for external motivation to spark your new resolution. Just do it by simply viewing your goal as a nonnegotiable. You brush your teeth as a nonnegotiable, right? Whether it’s a better meal plan, a fitness regimen, saving money, getting more sleep, going to school, or a career change take the choice out of it. For example, you don’t have to be in the mood to go for a run, or to train at the gym; you do it whether you are or you aren’t motivated and guess what by the time you finish, you feel accomplished and good about yourself! Stick to the disciplined schedule you give yourself and it will become routine.

---

For more information on managing your stress and reclaiming your life read my book, Addicted to Stress: A Woman's 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life. To listen to archived radio shows with guest experts visit Turn On Your Inner Light Radio Show