Sociological bean-counters report that now barely one in three of us continue to make the traditional New Year's Resolution.

Is it any wonder???

Almost without exception all the usual resolutions are so macho; so austere; so instantly depressing. Resolutions only succeed in casting a grey pall over the brand new year.

Midnight strikes and we vow to lose twenty pounds; midnight strikes and we vow to rise an hour earlier in order to exercise; midnight strikes and we vow to master some new work-skill. Facing into a brand New Year, we promise ourselves we will give up chocolate, or TV, or fats, or carbs - then suddenly realize a whole year of doing without stretches out ahead of us. Our resolutions seem always to tend towards pushing the limits of our abilities, testing the strength of our self…