What started as a religious promises to the Babylonian gods to return borrowed objects had transformed into promises to ourselves to lose weight and get organized.

While more than 40 percent of individuals will make New Year’s Resolutions, only 8 percent of individuals will achieve their goals, according to a Forbes article.

In Picayune, a few people have said they will be making the typical New Year’s Resolutions, like losing weight.

Sandra Gaines said she always makes the resolution to diet and exercise more, but this year she is also trying to be more positive.

“I want to look for the better things and find the good in people,” Gaines said.

On a similar note, Niki Woodard said she is going to try and smile more in 2014.

“I want people to know how happy I am,” Woodard said.

While both ladies think they will be successful, here are a few tips from Forbes on how anyone can be successful in fulfilling their New Year’s Resolutions.

One way is to keep your resolution simple. The average person has so many other priorities that setting extreme goals and resolutions set a person up for failure.

Keep your resolutions specific and achievable. Instead of saying you’re going to exercise more, set a specific day you will go to the gym or sign up for a fitness class.

Share your resolutions with friends or family so you have accountability for following through with your resolution.

One author, Rivka Friedman, posted on her blog her New Year’s resolutions and said it helped her follow through her goals.

Lastly, believe in yourself.

“I find my strength and peace in God,” Gaines said.

Woodard said, “I want to be a good role model for them (my children) so I hope that’ll remind me (to keep my resolutions).

So all with resolutions in 2014, good luck and don’t stop believing.