I think it's a running joke, in our culture, that people don't keep New Year's resolutions. People actually hold up New Year's resolutions as an example of their belief that humans aren't capable of making choices for themselves.
I believe we do make choices...but people often fail to anticipate how difficult they'll find it to carry out choices made in advance.
"I resolve to take more outdoor exercise," someone says. New Year's Day often falls during the thaw that often occurs just after the winter solstice, so on New Year's Day the person exercises outdoors. During the first week of January colder weather usually returns. Person looks out into the freezing rain and thinks, "No way." In another day or two, the weather does not rule out outdoor exercise...but "Oh well, I broke my New Year's resolution anyway."
The New Year's resolution may actually work against the person's desire to take more outdoor exercise. I have so been there.
There's an antidote for this "break a New Year's resolution, give up" syndrome, though. All we need to do is adopt the "one day at a time" approach from twelve-step groups.
"I resolve to take more outdoor exercise, one day at a time." Person skipped the exercise on the day of the freezing rain. Person releases the "New Year's resolution means I must do this EVERY SINGLE DAY!" and remembers, "Ultimately, I want to take more outdoor exercise." The next day, when the weather is chilly but clear, person piles on the layers and resumes exercise.
You've read enough. Now get up and move to some music:
I resolve to stay out of Nanny Mode, one day at a time.
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