I no longer make resolutions. I help other people with their Conflict Resolutions. As a woman who has spent the predominance of her life caught up in the endless cycle of dieting and body shaming, I spent way too many new years making resolutions and then breaking them before the year had time to settle. This is not to knock anyone’s resolutions but to come to grips with my own journey.
 
So if I’m no longer making resolutions then why do I have 4 Resolutions for 2016?
 
So far I’ve spent 2016 working hard on God, family, self and business, which has kept my schedule full. I have also found myself in deep prayer and contemplation about the state of this country and the world.

It is from this space that I commit myself to being a vocal, visible and viable source of activism in the conflicts that I feel are imperative to find Resolutions for as a society.
 
 
1. Racism

As an African American mother raising two African American sons along with my African American husband in a country where their safety can be endangered based on the color of their skin…
 

 
I must find ways to do the deeper work of helping us as a country have the difficult conversations about Race.
 
 
2. Parenting

Being a parent has always been challenging. With the changes in society in just the last twenty years, it seems like so many of the hundreds of parents that I meet are struggling more than they ever imagined. Stress, technology, learning disabilities, education, social media, nutrition, the environment and I haven’t even gotten to hormones; the list goes on, all contributing factors to the myriad feelings expressed by parents.
 

 
I know I have many things to contribute to resolving the conflicts presented by parenting and I intend to get them out to the world in a BIG way in 2016.
 
 
3. Self-Love

My friend and colleague, Dr. Lindamichelle Baron walks into any room and brings the sun, moon and the stars. She is in love with herself in the grandest way, so much so that it seems to make others blush and long for that kind of love in their own lives. That good, healthy “I know who I am” kind of love.
 

 
It is not easy to do the work of unlearning negative self-talk, stereotypes, harmful habits and difficult truths that live deep within us, but we MUST in order to be powerful in our own lives. I intend to do the work on myself and with as many people that call upon me to help them.
 
 
4. Deep Listening and Meaningful Response

With so much hurt, pain and conflict in the world, how can any one of us really make an impact? Where do we begin? Begin with listening to the conversations that you don’t want to listen to, you know the ones that are too painful, too idiotic, too sexist, too racist or too annoying. Or the ones you don’t think you have time for or have any common ground on. We all have them in our lives.
 

 
I’m committed to this kind of listening and to give a meaningful response even if it’s just, “thank you for helping me understand your view better.”
 
 
I’m committed. What about you? What are you working on for 2016 that will bring deep change into your life or into the world?