At the turn of the new year, we start thinking about resolutions and creating the best year ever. It’s time for a fresh start. It feels good to start over and leave whatever didn’t work out in the previous year behind us. But how do we make lasting change in our lives? You have the power within yourself. Allow me to explain.

When I was in acting school, my teachers would tell us that your talent lies in your choices. It took a while for that concept to sink in. I didn’t really understand at first. But the way you played a scene was not going to be the same as anyone else. If you think about how many different ways an actor could say the line, “I love you.” They could say it with passion, with regret, with complete happiness, in tears, they could make you think they are lying, or make you believe every word of it. The way they choose to say that line could completely change the scene. It is their acting choices that show their talent.

Likewise in life, your happiness lies in your choices. You can have the best year ever by deciding what will make you happy and acting on those choices. You could decide to change nothing and go through tomorrow exactly as the day before. You could choose to speak up in a meeting at work and offer your ideas. You could choose to eat a big slice of cake or a bowl of vegetables. You could choose to take a nap or to take a walk. You could cook a nutritious dinner or drive through a Wendy’s. You could read a book on marketing or you could binge-watch Netflix.

Now, I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with any of these choices. I happen to love Netflix. But your progress this year will depend on how you choose to spend your time.

Your talent, your happiness, your power lies in your choices.

Will you choose to join me for my new program, the Mediterranean Body + Mind Detox? I designed this program for weight loss by teaching you the ways of the Mediterranean lifestyle. But it is so much more, because we also deal with the other issues that cause people to overeat.

We all know how to lose weight, but we can’t always get our minds around it. A Mediterranean lifestyle allows you to eat in a healthier way so that the weight naturally comes off. It takes the right mindset and a sprinkle of fun for lasting success. It’s about making healthier choices rather than starving ourselves into a smaller size.

You can have your best year ever. You just need to choose it.