How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution

It's that time of year when many people consider making a resolution to improve their life, business, relationships, health or a host of other reasons. However, the odds say that most resolutions won't be successful. According to one study, only 8 percent of New Year's resolutions are kept.

 

A recent article in The New York Times related that the three main reasons you may fail to keep your resolution are:

1. You are not the driver of the decision. External forces such as friends, colleagues or society tell you that you need to change instead of you actually making the decision to change.
2. You don't define success or identify milestones to reach a goal.
3. Your goals are unrealistic.

The Times points out that thinking too positively and not giving yourself enough breaks are other reasons goals are not achieved. Gabriele Ottingen, a professor of psychology at New York University claims, "The more positive people fantasize and daydream about their future success, the less well they do in terms of having actual success."

 

The key is to be realistic and recognize that you most likely will revert back to behavior and acts that you want to change. But remember that having an ice cream while on a mission to lose 10 pounds doesn't mean all hope is lost. Enjoy the ice cream and then continue with your diet.