Make Only One Resolution. It takes 21 days to break a habit or adopt a new behavior. With everything else going at this time of year, the chances of success are greater when a person can channel his or her energies into changing just one new behavior pattern. Confidence is the key to making the change so choose realistic goals.

Build Your Confidence. Start by implementing a new habit rather than trying to shake an engrained bad habit. Research shows that more people are willing to adopt a new “right” behavior, such as exercise, than are willing to abandon an older “wrong” behavior, such as smoking. Each success, whether small or large, teaches lessons and leaves a lasting desire for further accomplishment.

Addictions Are the Hardest Habits to Break. There are physical and psychological components to addiction. The physical aspect of smoking, for instance, is a result of continued exposure to nicotine, a powerful and addictive drug. The psychological component is called conditioned association. Over time a smoker develops consistent patterns. For example, a smoker may find that he or she typically smokes when driving, when talking on the phone, when having a cup of coffee or a drink of alcohol, when feeling angry, or sad, etc. These patterns become strongly ingrained and the activities, thoughts, feelings, etc. that often accompany smoking become automatic triggers that elicit a craving for a cigarette. A smoker may reach automatically for a cigarette without thinking or suddenly have a strong urge for a cigarette when in a setting where they normally smoke. That is a conditioned craving. This is a very powerful effect that can make it difficult to quit. To kick the habit, you must be willing to endure bodily changes, such as headaches from caffeine withdrawal or overeating when giving up smoking, in order to ride out the behavior change.

If at First You Don’t Succeed…Try, Try Again. If you succeed, pat yourself on the back and take full credit for it. If you don't, look at the barriers that were in your way, alter or remove the barriers and try again. The important thing is not to give up on yourself.