Overcome the Pitfalls of the New Year's Resolution

The New Year lurks behind Christmas' back door. The number one American resolution is to lose weight. This is after stuffing out selves with candy in the tradition of Halloween. Thanksgiving Day sees us gorging our gullets before falling into a tryptophan fueled slumber in front of the TV. This is followed by indulging ourselves at every Christmas and post Christmas party we could attend. We still have not figured out the twenty-five pounds we put on in three months is not coming off in four weeks or less.

Weight isn't the only concern of all resolutions. Cigarette smokers and heavy alcohol drinks swear to go cold turkey. The next four weeks are usually highlighted by stress, disappointment and eventually lead to reinforcing the need to resume that which we pronounced bad for our lives. After a period of self-flagellation, we return to our comfort zone of pledging success after next New Year's Eve.

There is an easier way to get through this. Brian Tracy is a guru in the world of business. One of the things he teaches is goal setting. He explains you cannot succeed in learning to climb mountains, if you begin by tackling all of Mount Everest at once. To achieve your goals you need to practice a process called "chunking." You start by conquering the foothills and smaller challenges and build up to your goal. Like New Year's resolutions, Mount Everest has claimed many lives. Including the best and well trained of mountain climbers have failed to survive. Even if you take on your resolutions in small bits and pieces, there is a chance of failure.

Success begins in how you accept the obstacles to your goals. Do you call a slip a failure or a lesson learned? Do you acknowledge your actions or condemn what you have done as a sign of defeat? Can you continue to pride yourself in what you have achieved already or let it wash out in perceived failure? These choices are yours to make. The eventually will decide whether you continue or give in.