New Year’s resolutions tend to be notoriously short-lived and the source of much frustration. Resolutions made consistent with how the human emotional system works, however, have a better chance of success.The reason most New Year’s resolutions fail so quickly is because they are an attempt to change an established pattern of behavior all of a sudden. And they tend to be made as strictly mental decisions: e.g. I’m going to work out 5 times a week starting tomorrow, even though I haven’t worked out in months. You know before you start the plan has little chance of succeeding.

The human emotional system, that naturally moves us toward greater harmony and balance, can help. Instead of scheduling trips to the gym that you don’t really expect to make, start by imagining yourself feeling really good about being fit and healthy. The more real you create this image in your mind, body and especially your emotions, the more powerful it becomes. That’s because your emotional system will move you to realize–to come into harmony with–that healthy image. Nurture that vivid image of fitness and the satisfaction. You should find that getting to the gym becomes more likely than it would have been if you simply try to manipulate yourself into going.

This can work with any kind of resolution as long as there is a sincere desire to move to a more emotionally satisfying state. Emotion is such a powerful driver of behavior. You have an emotional system that is operating all the time. Why not use it t make a better life?