What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

A new year brings new beginnings. 2010 is almost here, which means it’s that time for millions of people to make their new year’s resolutions. So what’s a resolution, and how do you even make one? Well, it’s a commitment you take at the beginning of each New Year to make a positive change in your life happen. It could be anything from losing weight to kicking a bad habit, learning something new, or even helping others.

[Theresa Graham, New Jersey]:
"My New Year's resolution is to get healthy and be happy, and to stay away from negative people and that's it."

[Kendal Rae, Australia]:
“Living life, being really positive and healthy and embracing yoga. I've learned alot about yoga but I want to learn more.”

[Local New Yorker]:
“I just want to fall in love with my wife all over again.”

But for many, pledging to make a change is as hard as the change itself.

New York Psychologist John Ryder says it’s all about staying positive.

He talks with clients about their resolutions and understands what it takes to stick to one.

[John Ryder, New York Psychologist]:
“I am a representative and advocate of positive psychology which is all about being optimistic. Optimism is not seeing the glass half full, it really is how to fill the glass full. When you are taking action, life becomes different.”

Ryder explains that resolutions are hard to keep because it’s so easy to get into a cycle of bad habits. Here’s his tips on how to make your resolutions come true.

[John Ryder, New York Psychologist]:
“First, concretize it, you want to write these things down and maybe find some objects in your house that will represent those things. Second, get the passion, the drive, the motivation and tell everybody about it so that you have the support from the people that really count.”

It may be easy for some to make a New Year’s resolution but it’s difficult for everyone to keep one.

Here’s hoping your New Year’s resolution can now become a success.

Kathryn Shakespear, NTD News, New York.