The 1 Thing You Can Do To Guarantee That You Have A Happy (Or Happier) New Year

As 2020 unfolds I'm encountering a great deal of people who have publicly proclaimed their new year's resolutions. As a growth expert this intrigues me. I know that the need to change or make changes in one's life is at the root of all new year's resolutions. But it has been my observation, both personal and empirical, that resolutions which are not viewed and approached as goals are often not attained. 

A resolution (by definition) is merely a firm decision to do or NOT to do something. In theory, you could have an abundance of resolutions like items on a grocery list; checking them off daily as you do or don't do them. Action (exercising regularly) or inaction (quitting smoking) is made feasible through the formation or elimination of habits.

Psychology teaches us that we don't "break" old habits; we replace them with new, better habits. Developing new habits that serve you is the greatest harbinger change, and the one thing you can do to guarantee that you have a happy (or happier) new year. 

Losing weight is about eating and exercising habits that must be addressed. Stagnant income is about  habitually accepting accepting your status quo, day-in, and day-out. Misemployment and underemployment are about the habit of viewing yourself as less than, and thereby accepting less. 

Habits are instinctual. They allow us to engage in actions without thinking about them or their consequences. This is why most people aren't aware of their habits. When we consciously elect to replace bad habits (habits that don't serve our needs) with good habits (habits that are conducive to improving our well being and goal attainment) we find the solution to any resolution challenge that we may face no matter what time of the year we face them.