So, it is that time of year again when people look ahead and make a resolution for the new year. Now, be honest with yourself. How many times have you set a goal and failed?

Yeah, that’s what I thought. Did you know almost everyone fails to keep their resolution? It’s true. Most likely you have fallen into picking one of the following resolutions:

• Exercise more
• Lose weight
• Eat more healthily
• Take a more active approach to health
• Learn new skill or hobby
• Spend more time on personal wellbeing
• Spend more time with family and friends
• Drink less alcohol
• Stop smoking

For the past several years I have made the same resolution and for the most part I’ve kept up with it. I will be honest; my resolution has become second nature to me, so I hardly realize I’m doing it. Not only is this resolution easy, but it makes me feel good. That is the key here. When you do something that feels good your body releases a chemical called dopamine which is a highly addictive “feel good” natural chemical reaction.

What is Dopamine? Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them.

See dopamine is good for us, and it is why my New Year Resolution is so easy to do.

Side Effects: There have been some side effects I must disclose. My Resolution has caused me to: Lose weight, exercise more, eat better, made it easier to enjoy people. I never expected those results, all I wanted to do is make a resolution and stick with it. I like these side effects!

The Resolution: Now are you ready to know what this Resolution is? Okay, so at least once a day I must accomplish one or more of the following things:

• Open a door for a stranger and smile at them
• Compliment someone on their hair, clothes or smell (meaning if they have perfume on)
• Smile at people when I’m in the store
• Park at the back of a parking lot and walk to the store
• Ask people about their day and listen to them
• Send family or friends a nice text message “Just thinking of you and wishing you a happy day”
• Write uplifting social media posts “start your day with a smile and brighten the world”
• Be positive, it takes just as much work to be happy as it is to be sad

That’s it: Do nice things for others and you will see how great it makes you feel. As a bonus you are spreading a positive attitude to others and in a small way making the world a better place. Just give it a try, all it takes is *one* deed a day. Before you know it, you’ll be doing it all the time and reaping in the pleasant intoxicating feeling of dopamine. You will also notice that when you are feeling down or depressed, it is much easier to come out of the gloom.

I hope you have a successful and productive year. Let me know if you try this and how it goes for you.