BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- While about 45 percent of Americans usually make a New Year's resolution, only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goal, according to the latest “Journal of Clinical Psychology”.

However, keeping a resolution is still possible if they think about goals in the right way, argued Tory Higgins, a professor of psychology and business at Columbia University.

Higgins believes there are two distinct types of goals: promotion goals and prevention goals. The former could be described as a hope or aspiration, like “I’d like to lose 10 pounds, so that I look better in my clothes.” In terms of the second one, it is something they believe they are responsible for doing, for instance, “I’d like to lose 10 pounds, because it is my responsibility to my family that I remain healthy.”

According to Higgins, for a prevention goal, individuals feel anxious about not maintaining their new habit and they become more vigilant. In contrast, failing at the promotion goal may only leads to discouragement because it seems that the aspiration will not come true. Therefore, prevention goal is more likely to turn a New Year’s resolution into action.

(Agencies)