The new year is here and along with it comes its share of 'new year resolutions' that everyone makes. Its their little list to improve their lives, in areas where they feel there's scope for improvement.

Back in the college days, no one ever took these resolutions too seriously, and right enough, people actually saw who got off their resolutions first, rather than who stuck to it the longest! It was actually a list which we ticked off as each resolution flopped and had a laugh about it. Most people ran thru the list before January ended.

But apparently, failed resolutions are not a laughing matter. According to this piece that I saw in today's TOI, people are flogging themselves over not being able to keep resolutions.

Improvement in life is good. Scholars, saints, scientists, all vouch for the efficiency of constant improvement. However, we fail in 3 areas...

1. Unrealistic goals
2. Irrational goals
3. Getting way too serious about goals

Whenever, you need to set a new years resolution, you need to remember to make a change because YOU want it, and not because others want it of you, and you need to make sure that the change YOU want, is not the result of an irrational influence of popular culture. And finally, no one gets it right the first time out. Don't make your resolutions a checklist, where you cross something off if it goes wrong. Instead, let it be a path that points you back in the direction you want to be headed in.

Best of luck and a very happy new year!!!