新的一年，如何坚持自己的既定计划？

　　    It’s almost New Year’s Eve, and that means it’s the season for resolutions. I’ve always been part of the 44% of people who make (and also break) New Year’s resolutions; I’m a big believer in the power of small changes to make us happier.

　　快到新年前夜了，意味着到了下决心的时刻。和44%的人一样，我会做出（并违背）新年决心。我坚信小变化也能带来快乐。

　　Along the way, and especially since I started my resolutions-based happiness project, I’ve hit on some strategies for helping myself stick to resolutions.

　　一直以来，特别是在我为了快乐而下决心之后，我发现一些方法能帮助自己坚持决心。

　　1. Be specific. Don’t resolve to “Make more friends” or “Strengthen friendships”; that’s too vague. To make more friends as part of my happiness project, I have several very concrete resolutions like: “Start a group,” “Remember birthdays,” “Say hello,” “Make plans,” “Show up,” and “No gossip.”

　　1.具体化。不要决定“交更多的朋友”或“巩固友谊”，这太模糊。作为快乐计划中的一部分，我的“交朋友”决心非常具体：“建立一个小组”、“记住别人的生日”、“打招呼”、“定计划”、“到场”、“不说闲话”。

　　2. Write it down.

　　2.写下来。

　　3. Review your resolution constantly. If your resolution is buzzing through your head, it’s easier to stick to it. I review my Resolutions Chart every night.

　　3.时常回顾你的决心。如果你的决心“余音绕梁”，那么就更容易坚持。我每天都看一遍自己的“决心章程”。

　　4. Hold yourself accountable. Tell other people about your resolution, join or form a like-minded group, score yourself on a chart (my method) -- whatever works for you to make yourself feel accountable for success and failure.

　　4.建立自我问责制度。告诉给别人你的决心，参加或创建一个“志同道合”群体，用表格给自己打分（我的方法）。任何可以对成功和失败问责的方式都可以。

　　5. Think big. Maybe you need a big change, a big adventure – a trip to a foreign place, a break-up, a move, a new job. Let yourself imagine anything, and plan from there.

　　5.眼光放长。也许你需要有一个大的变化，大的冒险——例如：去异国他乡旅行，分手，搬迁，新工作。允许自己做出任何想象，然后做好打算。

　　6. Think small. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that only radical change can make a difference. Just keeping your fridge cleared out could give you a real boost. Look close to home for ways to improve and grow.

　　6.小处着眼。不要陷入“只有激进变化才能起到作用”的思维。清理一下冰箱，这也是个进步。就近在家中寻找改善、成长的方法。

　　7. Ask for help. Why is this so hard? But every time I ask for help, I’m amazed at how much easier my task becomes.

　　7.寻求帮助。为什么会那么难？但是每当我寻求帮助，我会惊奇地发现任务变得简单多了。