It’s that time of year again when everyone is thinking about their New Year’s resolutions. Instead of planning on what you will be doing, how about thinking about who you will be? What personal changes do you need to make? Are you where you want to be? Is there a reason for that?

What character traits do you want to possess? Good personal character traits will better your chances of success in achieving your goals in both your personal life and your professional life. Good social character traits result in other people wanting to do business with you or to have personal relationships with you.

Below are some personal trait guidelines

• Temperance – Avoid excessive food and drink.
• Order – Organize your time effectively and keep all things in their place.
• Resolution – Do what you resolve to do without fail.
• Frugality – Spend only what benefits yourself and others and waste nothing.
• Moderation – Avoid extremes and forgive injuries. Injuries refers to an injury caused by another, whether physical or emotional—don’t indulge your resentment.
• Industry – Be diligent and use your time productively.
• Cleanliness – Tolerate no uncleanliness in the body, clothes, or home.
• Tranquility – Don’t sweat the small stuff. (And, it’s all small stuff.)
• Humility – Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
• Sincerity – Be fair in thought and word.
• Silence – Speak only to benefit yourself and others.
• Justice – Do no harm and do your duty.
• Chastity – Keep your lust in check.
• Morals & Values – Establish the morals and values of how you want to live your life. Associate with those that share these and remove yourself from the company of those that don’t.

So, instead of make a resolution to lose weight, let’s first make a resolution to fix the inside before we attempt to fix the outside!