Start your New Year's resolution with you Published Jan. 14, 2013 By Senior Airman Joel Mease 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA -- It's a new year, and for many deployed Airmen it's an opportunity for a new start. It sounds like a great plan, but if there's no foundation to start with, it becomes another failed New Year's resolution. "Just writing down a few New Year's resolutions is probably not going to do much for you," said Chaplain (Maj.) Larry Fowler, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing deputy wing chaplain. "You must have a 'want to' to make real change happen." Once you know a change is needed, asking someone else to narrow your focus can be very beneficial to success, he said. "Evaluate yourself honestly; perhaps even be brave enough to ask a trusted peer or superior to honestly speak about your growth areas," Fowler said. "Their insight may provide the clarity you need to address the areas that need to be addressed most." So how does one go from making a plan to acting on it? "Most of us know what we should do in life," Fowler said. "Simply put, we know we need to be mentally sharp and healthy; we know we should hit the gym or the trail to train in order to be in a constant state of physical preparedness." The same could be said about spiritual fitness as well, Fowler said. "We know we should attend to our spiritual needs and exercise the spiritual disciplines that strengthen and inform our faith and we know we need a healthy support network of family and friends who can provide the social safety net that keeps us from getting into a funk," Fowler said. The Air Force describes four areas as key to keeping an overall comprehensive fitness: mental, physical, social and spiritual. According to the Air Force these 'pillars' promote positive behavior and a stronger resiliency. "All of these areas are vitally important, and trouble in one area can bleed over into other areas of life," Fowler said. "For example, from my perspective, I see people of faith thinking they are having a spiritual crisis when they may just be exhausted from their hectic pace of life." So how does an Airman differentiate between a crisis and pace of work? "Looking at each of these areas can help you to evaluate which area in one's life needs attention," Fowler said. "Then the challenge becomes finding the determination to make the needed changes." According to Fowler knowing what needs to be changed to be successful is also where we find the biggest challenges. "It's important to have some sort of accountability," Fowler said. "Certainly our military culture has many levels of accountability built into it, yet we need a network of folk who will keep us going." Fowler uses the example of going to the gym with a person as a way to build personal accountability. "I'm more likely to hit the gym when I'm working out with someone," Fowler said. "Despite the fact I love to run alone, it helps me to have a partner to keep me going and to not make up a good excuse for not running on any given day." After that, set those goals and let people know about them, it will make a person more accountable to actually follow through, he said. "There really is strength in numbers and strength that comes from being in a group," Fowler said. "For example, a few years back I ran a marathon, but only because I had three other guys I did not want to disappoint; trust me I would have not run it if it wasn't for the others encouragement and my desire to not let them down." Most Airmen understand the need to keep goals measurable and achievable etc., but Fowler believes resolve and having a team are key to making a change. "As you flesh out the goal, understand what it is you are really trying to achieve; build a team or find a partner to create some accountability, and use your strengths to enhance your weaknesses." Fowler said. "Most of us have some faith or religious background that informs the way we make changes in our lives. Utilize those core beliefs to strengthen your resolve to make positive change in any and all areas of your life."