photo: Carol VanHook, Creative Commons

2015 is almost here!

Aside from being caught up with all the busyness of the holidays, most of us have already compiled a list of resolutions we’re hoping to accomplish in the New Year.

What are some of your goals for 2015?

Eat better, work less, make more money, lose that dreaded 15 pounds you just gained, run a 5k, travel to somewhere exotic… Most of us find it pretty easy to fill up several pages with ideas of things we want to do differently in the next year.

What matters most to you though? Of all the things you fill up your list with, what will be the most significant?

What New Year’s resolution will have the overall greatest impact in your life?

We get so caught up in the busyness of our responsibilities that it’s easy to push off the things that matter most in our lives without even realizing it. Most of us work 40 – 80 hours a week, unless you’re a stay at home parent, in which case it’s more like 168 hours a week.

What would happen if you made it a point to devote 30 minutes of your undivided attention to your son? How would it impact your relationship with your daughter if you took a half hour 1 morning a week to play a game with her? How do you think they would respond?

How would your children feel knowing you set aside absolutely everything just spend a little extra time with them?

As parents we have the privilege of shaping & molding our children’s development. But few things can impact their self-esteem, confidence & overall joy as much our love & undivided attention.

Of the 10,080 minutes you occupy your time with each week, can you find 30 of those to set aside just to love on your children?

Nick Hersey, LAMFT, LAPC

nhersey@ GROWcounseling.com