~~~
Blog post – 12th January 2026
~~~
More guidance on how to identify and pursue your New Year Resolutions in 2026:
How to Change Your Life: Brian Tracy’s Approach
By Jim Byrne, Doctor of Counselling
~~~
Summary
This blog post explores how to identify and pursue effective New Year’s resolutions for 2026, drawing on the teachings of Brian Tracy.
The introduction, written by Dr Jim Byrne, highlights the importance of clarity and commitment in personal change. It recommends reflecting on the key areas of life – such as
career, finances,
health, relationships,
spirituality and daily happiness – before setting clear, specific, and measurable goals for meaningful transformation.
~~~
Introduction
Personal change begins with clarity and commitment. Brian Tracy teaches that the first step toward meaningful transformation is to decide exactly what you want. Take time to reflect on your life and identify the key areas that matter most to you—whether it’s advancing your career, increasing your financial stability, improving your health, nurturing relationships, deepening your spirituality, or simply experiencing more joy day to day. Be specific, and write down your goals in clear, measurable terms.
Once you’ve defined your targets, Tracy recommends asking yourself four powerful questions:
~~~
Focus Questions:
Here are some those helpful questions, in my own words:
(1). What obstacles are holding me back right now?
(a). Identify the beliefs, habits, or external barriers standing in your way. Tracy emphasizes that awareness is the first step toward overcoming resistance and taking control of your future.
(2). What will my life look like in six months or a year if I don’t make these changes?
(a). Visualize the consequences of inaction. Tracy suggests that honestly assessing the cost of staying the same can be a strong motivator for change.
(3). How will I feel if nothing changes?
(a). Acknowledge your emotions – whether it’s frustration, disappointment, or regret. Tracy encourages you to use those feelings as fuel to propel you forward, rather than letting them hold you back.
(4). How motivated am I to make this change now?
(a), Tap into your desire for a better future. According to Tracy, motivation increases when you connect your goals to your deepest values and visualize the benefits of success.
~~~
Brian Tracy often says, “Your life only gets better when you get better.”
Take responsibility for your results and commit to ongoing learning and personal growth.
Break big goals into actionable steps, develop new skills, and track your progress regularly.
Remember, change is not a single event but a continuous process of improvement.
By applying these principles, you’ll build momentum, overcome challenges, and create the life you truly want.
~~~
That’s the end of my third blog post on New Year resolutions.
There may be one or two more.
Best wishes for a better year in 2026, and take care.
Jim
Jim Byrne, Doctor of Counselling
ABC Counselling and Psychotherapy Services
Hebden Bridge and Worldwide.
~~~
Postscript: The example of your health goals…for 2026
If your goal for 2026 is to improve your health, start by clearly defining what “better health” means for you. For example, you might decide to aim for a daily walk, a balanced diet, or regular sleep and rest. Be as specific and measurable as possible.
Next, take a moment to identify what’s been holding you back in the past. Are there habits, such as skipping breakfast or spending too much time sitting, that you want to change?
Or are there beliefs like “I’ll never stick to an exercise routine” that need to be challenged?
Bringing these obstacles into the open is the first step toward overcoming them and setting yourself up for success in the new year.
~~~
This blog post explores effective strategies for creating and implementing meaningful New Year’s resolutions in 2026, particularly focusing on health-related goals (as an illustration of the recommended process).
I want to address the problem of why most people struggle to set and pursue and achieve their New Year Resolutions, and more general goals.
In this blog post, I will attempt to help individuals who struggle to achieve their goals to make definite progress this year: by using two of Dr de Bono’s strategies. One to improve your “thinking”; and one to improve your management of action.
As we settle into the new year, many of us are eager to set resolutions that will truly make a difference. But how do you determine which resolution should take priority?
Before you commit to a health goal, take time to explore it from multiple perspectives. De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats model encourages you to examine the issue in a full spectrum of ways. As a quick introduction to this model of “thinking”, we can say that De Bono’s six elements of the thinking process are as follows: Collecting information (which he calls “White Hat Thinking”.)
What facts or data do I have – recent check-ups, fitness levels, sleep patterns, stress markers?” Gather all the relevant information before you decide.
Blue Hat (Process): Step back and organize your thinking. What’s the overall plan? How will you structure your journey and keep track of your progress? (Sometimes it’s best to begin with the Blue Hat, rather than the White!)
Grey Sneakers: Investigative, exploratory action – useful for learning about new health strategies, trying out different workouts, or gathering more information by “moving around”.
Wishing you clarity, courage, and steady progress on your resolutions this year.
In his blog post dated January 8, 2026, Dr Jim Byrne reflects on personal development and the pursuit of wisdom, emphasizing the interconnectedness of daily experiences and enlightenment. He presents the concept that one’s future is shaped not merely by today’s thoughts, but by cumulative experiences and actions. Drawing parallels between the formation of a forest floor and character development, he argues for the significance of proactive change and self-education. Encouraging readers to blend intention with action, he stresses that understanding alone is not enough; intelligent action is essential for meaningful transformation. He concludes with wishes for a successful New Year; and some notes of guidance on how best to create and pursue your reslutions for 2026.
Do you want to know my latest insight into the journey of personal development? If yes, please read on…
My latest insight into the journey of personal development arose in a slightly obscure, and bizarre manner, two mornings ago. Indulge me if you will:
Where did this “intuitive conviction” have come from? The only explanation I could come up with was this: The process of meditating, about five nights every week, for decades, has somehow crystalized; combined with all the Zen and related readings that Renata and I have done, night after night, year after year.
My next thought was this: Personality and character formation are like a sedimented forest floor, laid down by years and years of deposition and accumulation. But in the case of a person, the deposition and accumulation are not organic matter, but rather “cumulative, interpretive experiences”, and the results of all of our actions in the world, including our perceiving-feeling-thinking.
I was now very clear that my life of tomorrow will be determined by all of my cumulative, interpretive experiences; my actions in the world, including my perceiving-feeling-thinking processes and responses to stimuli (- plus the objective environment that I encounter tomorrow; and how I manage my lifestyle between now and tomorrow!)
This is not a new idea. It overlaps the NLP idea that, “If you continue to do what you have always done, then the result you will get is the result that you always have got in the past, and the present!”
But Aristotle had argued that our character formation (and he did not exclude personality) is a result of our childhood training!
And then I remembered that I had been a member of the International Foundation for Action Learning for a few years, about twenty years ago. And the fundamental proposition of the IFAL is this:
And that is where today’s action comes in. What self-educating action can I take today to move me towards the kind of future that I would like to live tomorrow; and tomorrow?
Don’t be discouraged by setbacks; instead, treat them as opportunities for learning and growth. Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage your journey. And most importantly, focus on forming new habits rather than relying solely on willpower—true transformation comes from persistent, mindful practice. 
ABC Counselling and Psychotherapy, Hebden Bridge 