As we venture into the new year we often reflect on our life goals and make resolutions toward reaching them. I know I often have some mixed feelings as I consider my goals and resolutions. I feel guilt for what I didn’t accomplish during the previous year, and excitement regarding what I believe I can do during the coming year. Allowing both of these emotions the to motivate can help you set great resolutions.

So, what will you resolve to do this year? Will it be to exercise more? Eat better? Be more kind? Have more patience with your kids? Be more productive? Go to bed earlier? Get that nagging thing done you have been meaning to do for years? These are the common things many resolve to do at the years beginning. While all of these things are important and worth focus, they are not the things that most equate with happiness and meaning in life. Why not put your focus this year on the things that matter most – those you love?

Interestingly, research has shown that people with healthy couple and family relationships report higher levels of life satisfaction, they are healthier, they are more productive at work, they are better parents, etc. In fact,  most people report improvement in most areas of their lives as their close relationships become healthier. So, I suggest that rather than setting so many other  goals that look much the same as the ones you have set over and over again for the past decade, resolve to work on your relationships in 2014. As your relationships improve, the other aspects of your life are also likely to improve as well. This may just be the key to finally resolving all those other things you feel guilty about each year.