Frame a situation around a much-cherished goal and you are more likely to stick to that goal and/or sway others to seek it too. That's one of many stories with lessons for sticking to a plan that psychologist and Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino offers in her new book Sidetracked.

The key is finding the joy in between the peaks -- paying attention to the moments, to the joy in the creating of your dreams, and to the pride you feel in yourself. Even if no one else ever acknowledges what you're doing, this is the true objective.

The potential for making lasting New Year's resolutions was driven home to me during a recent walk around the pond, near my house.

Why do we make bad decisions? Why do we eat that extra cookie or choose a cheeseburger instead of a salad with grilled chicken? It turns out there is nothing wrong with you when you give into fatigue or temptation. Your brain has simply run out of gas.

Although curbing cravings can be difficult, particularly if you are already in a pattern of indulging, it is possible to better understand your cravings and make even small changes that have a lasting impact on your willpower.

Who among us has not made a plan to get up in the morning and exercise, but then hit snooze one time too many, sleeping through our morning jog?

Did you know that willpower is like coal? We have a limited amount, and it can very well run out. I am determined to get some of my willpower back, so here I have assembled the tricks that have worked in the past.

Most people have at least one area in which they lack willpower. How can you increase your willpower? Here are some techniques, using exercise as an example, that should help.

According to Walter Mischel, this view of will power also helps explain why the marshmallow task is such a powerfully predictive test. "If you can dea...

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. ...