New year resolutions, both secular and religious are known to fall apart shortly thereafter. Why not consider a simple, doable, lasting change in an area of life where the change itself is rewarding — like with gratitude?
Our Sages tell us that God helps us go in the direction we desire. We may entertain ideas of changing this thing or that, but perhaps inside we don’t really want, so nothing really changes for long. (Even worse, we may suffer with self-persecution or feeling like a failure.)
Why not go to the root and make simple efforts of becoming more grateful?
Although I don’t have proof, but it’s possible (and maybe probable) living a grateful life is like a keystone habit — a habit that has positive effects in other areas of life. Thus, by being a more grateful person other behaviors and areas in life also change for the better.
Additionally, our Sages warn us about the probable failures of setting overly ambitious goals. Consider focusing on something small and doable, like increasing gratitude.
Since there is no limit to the amount of gratitude you can have it’s technically unquantifiable and any gratitude expressed is good! That means a zero failure rate. Literally, you cannot lose when you express gratitude.
Yitzhak Sasson 