T
here’s no shortage of annual traditions in American society, from
setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July to untagging ourselves in Facebook posts the day after St. Patrick’s Day before
anyone sees what we did (for shame!).
Of all our traditions, few are as noble as the New Year’s Resolution, our yearly
declaration to do something we don’t already do, to stop doing something
we wish we didn’t, to be the kind of person we are when we imagine the best
versions of ourselves. They’re beautiful, in a way, especially for something
that lends to absolute panic as we confront the concept of change.
Thankfully, there are ways to get what you want, and most are easier than
you think. Check it out:
Aim for the short term
Some people climb mountains, but if you ask any of them how they do
it, they’ll tell you that they’re taking those peaks one foot at a time, from
the base to the summit (or they’re lying, or they used a helicopter). The
same principle holds for any goal, whether you’re giving up