It's that time of year when we reflect on the past and plan for the future, and that means resolving to change those habits or circumstances that we've been unhappy with. For many of us, it also means making the same resolutions we've made—and haven't fulfilled—year after year. Even though we all desire or even need to make changes in our lives, whether we are aware of it or not many of us are resistant to letting go of old habits. When we make New Years resolutions we often have unrealistic ideas of how to overcome and stop these resistances from sabotaging our resolve to change. Then once again we find ourselves frustrated and unable to move forward. Instead of fighting and struggling with resistance learn to embrace and work with it so you can finally break its hold on you.

Ronald A. Alexander, Ph.D., is the author of Wise Mind, Open Mind: