Leah & Liz Hodson

New Year's resolutions are a part of our make up, whether we are serious about them or not. The desire to change ourselves - whether it's losing weight, quitting the butts or learning how to say no - is a lot easier to define when we have a start date.
But these resolutions are not so easy to keep. Do we set the bar too high or unconsciously set ourselves up for failure? Life Coach Liz Hodson says yes to both. A graduate of the University of Santa Monica's Spiritual Physiology program, Hodson has been working with children and adults for 20 years. For the past two years, she has been hosting monthly meetings with a group of moms as they discuss their lives, their children and their goals.

1. New Year's resolutions... Do they work?
I believe we should make those resolutions every day in our life. The new year is really just an excuse to say, "This is a new year; I can be a new person."

2. How come so many of us give up those resolutions before the end of January?
We tend to set ourselves up for failure. We were born with a clean slate and with love. As we grow, we hear people telling us what we should be and our clean white slates change. Irrational beliefs set in - "You can't be this" or "You can't do that." These messages stay with us and affect us.

3. Is there a way to be successful at these resolutions?
Of course! Start today. Live for today. Make goals for today. Find people who will support you and find people to cheer you on. Everyone needs a cheerleader.

4. Tell us a little bit about "choice."
First, I never tell people what to do. I give them ideas on different ways to get through the obstacles that are holding them back. I believe we can do anything we want if we can clear up those old irrational ideas we were told as children. It's about following your heart and listening. We can all choose to be miserable or happy. It's a choice.

5. Has the stressful lifestyle of the 21st Century caused problems?
We have a committee going on in our head. We don't trust ourselves and we tend to go out and ask everyone's advice. We get overloaded and are afraid to move. Our fear and our ego cause us to build up resistance. We need to ask for support and assistance, but first we need to take the time to find out what we ourselves really want. I limit myself to only one or two people who really mentor me. Fear makes us miss out on everything.

6. Do we long for the simplicity of our younger days?
Yes, but then we are missing out on today. When people ask, "What's your favorite day?," what's wrong with saying "today?"

7. When it comes to changes in our life, what are some of the things we can do to make our life nicer? Easier? Peaceful?
Find time to be quiet with yourself, find that place of peace and the answers will come. Change your thinking and change your behavior and your whole life will change.

8. You are passionate about your work with moms. Tell me about that program?
My daughter turned nine in November and she is an amazing person. She knows everybody in her school and I love that about her. I went back to school when she started school and I realized that I felt all alone. Everything around me was about the kids, but there was nothing there for me, the mom. Motherhood can be very isolating. So I invited a group of moms to meet at my house - no children. It launched into something so huge. We began to realize we all have our stories, but we weren't alone. We talk, have dinner and share.

9. What has been the biggest change in your life?
I am always changing. The number-one change was having a child and starting this mom's group. Then putting myself through school when no one thought I could get a college degree.

10. Divorce?
Going through my divorce was like going through a death. It was hard, but I believe divorce is not a war and we have to remember we were once in love with that person. Once we get to that point, we can open up the lines of communication and stop the war. We have enough of that going on in the world right now and we don't need it in our homes.

11. Do you make New Year's resolutions?
New Years is everyday for me. I get up every day knowing that I can change my life and make a difference. And it's going to start with me.