Why New Year's Resolutions fail?

From WSJ Speakeasy

It is New Year.  As usual a number of New Year's Resolution will be made.  A typical list would be:

l.  I will exercise;
2.  I will quit alcohol and cigarettes;
3.  I will spend less;  less shopping;
4.  I will be more generous etc.

But often, these just remain promises and we end up to be promising people.  Or just remain as empty words (not resolutions -->because resolve is lacking)  Why?  Because habits are hard to break.

Peter Senge is right that the right strategy is to change the person and his habits:   mind set, personal mastery, systems thinking, and the rest, shared learning and vision follow.  Habits must be broken to have breakthrough in thinking and execution. 

But habits die hard;  so follow the 2l day rule;   if you can change your habit in 2l days, then it stays put.  The first scroll of The World's Greatest Salesman would be helpful here.  You recite each of the scrolls 3 times a day for 30 days until you notice  a change.

Or the Jesuit reflection - same thinking deeply on what you work for Jesus Christ 3x a day.