AMC Command Chief: Achieving personal success in 2011

Published Jan. 14, 2011
By Chief Master Sgt. Dave Spector
Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Mobility Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- As we enter 2011, most of us will venture down a well-traveled path paved with bold and sometimes hastily-conceived New Year's resolutions. It is a route often covered with promises to exercise more, lose weight, stop smoking, cut down on alcohol consumption, eat a healthier diet and make new friends.

Turning over a new leaf...resolving to do better...our New Year's resolutions are a time-honored tradition. For most people, the New Year brings with it hope and a desire to start anew.

In a recent poll, Americans said their top 10 New Years' resolutions were to:
· Spend more time with family and friends
· Fit in fitness
· Lose weight and tame the bulge
· Quit smoking
· Enjoy life more
· Quit drinking alcohol
· Get out of debt
· Learn something new
· Help others
· Get organized

So...Air Mobility Command Airmen...what will you do? Are you setting your sights on achieving one or several of the top 10 New Year's resolutions listed above? Will you succeed in making your resolutions come true?

As the New Year gets underway, we should begin by thinking through what resolutions are realistically achievable in the coming year. Interestingly, the word "resolution" is tied to the New Year tradition instead of the word "goal," but in my book, they mean the same thing.

Some years I've been more successful than in other years in keeping my resolutions and I want to share a few tips I've used to stay focused on accomplishing my goals.

1. Write down your resolutions, think about them for a few days and revise them.

2. Share your goals with someone who cares about you and supports you. It's hard to slip away from obtaining your goals if someone else is watching you.

3. Ensure your goals are realistic. Running in the New York Marathon in 2011 might not be realistic if you have yet to complete the entire wing run without stopping.

I also use AMC's model of "Comprehensive Airmen Fitness," or CAF, to keep me grounded and focused. CAF is not a program, but an approach to better equip you to handle stress. Through CAF, there are four pillars, or dimensions, of fitness and human wellness -- physical, social, mental and spiritual. There are also the five "Cs" of building and maintaining positive relationships -- caring, committing, communicating, connecting and celebrating. The five "Cs" provide Airmen a focus on five simple behaviors that help our Airmen and their families build a sense of belonging in our community, which in turn leads to well being, life balance, and resiliency for all.

The four dimensions of human wellness -- physical, mental, social and spiritual -- are easy to remember. If you look closely at the top 10 resolutions listed above, you'll see all 10 resolutions have some degree of association with all four of the wellness dimensions.

a. Physical wellness suggests we should analyze our current exercise routine, tobacco and alcohol use, along with fitness and weight standards. If we want a healthy body, we have to eat and drink sensibly, and exercise regularly. It's that simple.

b. Social wellness suggests working on relationships and friends. How is your relationship with your significant other? When is the last time you called your parents just to tell them that you love them? Social wellness affords us the opportunity to network in the community whether in the dorms, in your workplace, or off base in the local community. The Five C's mentioned above are tools we can use to focus our efforts in positive ways to form mutually satisfying relationships essential to our social well-being.

c. Mental wellness addresses issues like a member's self esteem as well as current stress levels. As the New Year begins are you content with your stress coping skills? Are you more optimistic than pessimistic? How's your level of patience with others? In other words...how is your attitude?

d. Spiritual wellness is a very personal area encompassing not only religious beliefs, but also our sense of connection to the world we live in. Important aspects such as feeling part of something larger than ourselves and how we contribute to the greater good are also part of this domain. Some people meet their spiritual needs by attending church while others meet their spiritual needs through alternate means. Speaking from experience and observations over many years...spiritual wellness is directly responsible for helping most people become a better person.

President Abraham Lincoln, one of America's most esteemed commanders in chief once said, "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." So, as you embark on your own New Year's resolutions in 2011, remember to write them down, share them with someone you trust, and ensure they're realistic and achievable.

Finally, may I suggest that you visualize these four dimensions of human wellness in your mind and use them as a roadmap to keep you focused on your goals. If you follow this strategy, I am confident you will find this to be an especially productive and satisfying year.

Good luck and have a great New Year!