With the arrival of the New Year, many of us are making resolutions. It's a tradition that goes back to the Roman King, Janus. This mythical god king was said to have been two faced, able to look into the past and the future simultaneously.  He was known as the god of beginnings and, it's from him that we get the name January.
The first day of January  appeals to many as the start of a new year; a chance to begin fresh. The problem is, so many of us set ourselves up for failure with lofty resolutions that we give up on after a little bit of turbulance.
This year, why not buck tradition and make a motto for yourself instead of a resolution? A motto offers a little more flex and more positive in nature, making it easier to stick to. 
The key is to remove the negative thoughts, give yourself an easy to repeat and positive motto and look for opportunity to celebrate yourself. Remember, it's not a win/lose scenario you're creating. A motto transcends the balance of success and failure in naming a motivation for the life you are envisioning.
Instead of saying that you'll lose weight in 2010 (a resolution that will fail for nearly 80 percent of people who make it) why not make your motto "A Healthier, More Beautiful Me."
If you're looking to quit smoking, your motto can be "Breathing Free," an opportunity to praise yourself for those moments when you can do without the smokes.
Getting your finances under control can be titled, "Smart Stewardship".
The motto I've chosen for myself is, "Every Day Is Productive," a reminder to keep the daily goals manageable and to give credit for each accomplishment.
So think about it. Take whatever rosolution you were planning and spin it into a motto instead. What do you come up with?