There is a negative association with New Years resolutions. It is almost a joke to most to make the New Years resolutions and not be serious. It is a gap between who you should be and who you are and this creates anxiety. Many people have the new years resolution to lose weight, and many do not even go further to implement a plan. I believe it is a self-defeating behavior, pointing out your flaws, and then to never do anything about it. It is a self-fulfilling behavior to think that you cannot change, and circumstances are uncontrollable.

I have had great success with my new years resolutions. The time of New years eve I always reflect on the past year, and all that I have done. A year is a long time and I am often amazed at everything I have done, learned and experienced. I find my goals tend to be different then others though. Where someone's goal would be to lose 10-20 pounds this year, mine would be to run a marathon, or climb a mountain, read the best ten novels, etc.
The difference that I see in my goals from many others is that mine are goals that would bring joy and success, rather then relief. And the more I do the more I want to do. I also try to view my world as controllable. If I suck at running, then I can change that. If in the past I have had bad grades, then I can change that. So often I hear people tell me their new years resolutions, and then it is usually followed by them telling me that they'll probably fail because in the past they have failed.

In summary, we should be inspired by new years resolutions, and not overwhelmed by them.