Despite the cynical age in which we live, it's hard not to feela surge of hope and optimism each time we turn the calendar page and start another year.These feelings are exemplified in the annual tradition of NewYear's resolutions. Sure, we sometimes (OK, usually) fall short of our lofty aims within a fewmonths (OK, weeks), but the very idea of setting goals in order tobetter oneself speaks to the resiliency and confidence that,despite all our faults, make humans such a formidable force.

Within the benefits world, this mindset is on display every day.Need evidence? Check out this month's “Action Reaction,” where some leading benefitsprofessionals lay out their hopes and plans for 2018. Maybe you'llfind something to add to your own list. Here are excerpts from afew of my favorite resolutions:

“Continue to debunk the myth that health care costs cannotbe controlled by showing current and future clients how this can bedone.” —Brandon Scarborough

“Spend more time doing what I enjoy, resulting in improvedrelationships both, professionally and personally. Writemore.” —Tanya Boyd

“To focus on empathy for the people and situations around mefirst, and to represent myself and what I stand forauthentically.” —Meg Murphy

“Remove barriers that stem from complexity and giveemployers more clarity and confidence in their decisionmaking.” —Reed Smith

“Be more methodical in how we reach employers and morefocused and concise in how we deliver our value proposition soemployers realize that their success is our success.”—Felipe Barganier

Let's face it, the benefits industry can be tough, but hopefullythis issue will provide you with plenty of reasons for optimism asyou head into 2018. In “Health Care Reform Wish List” (page 31),Terry Stone of Oliver Wyman says “Transforming health care is along road, but the efforts that we make each day will make it alittle better.”

Or, as Kareim Cade puts it in this month's “Face of Change,” “Although it seems very smallwhen we're doing it, a little bit of success yesterday, a littlebit today and a little more tomorrow and over the course of years,we'll be able to look back and say we really made an impact on thisindustry.”