It's the same every year. As December comes to an end, you think about the New Year and all the ways you want to improve your life. But as you start to jot down your self-improvement wish list for the coming year, you think about the previous year. You excitedly scribbled down all of the changes you were going to make, but by the end of January, you found that old habits die hard.

Cynics say: "A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other". And G.K. Chesterton said: "Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective". Surely, recognizing the wisdom of these words makes it all too easy to just throw your hands in the air and not make any resolutions at all.

But all too often, we forget the reason we make these pledges. As the old saying goes: "Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits."

And even those who don't make resolutions still have an inner desire to admit to mistakes, wrap up last year's business and make life better in the coming year.

The question then becomes: Why is it so difficult to make the change?

BJW has an answer for this: It's not.

You need to create a new you. And this can be easier than you think.

If you start with your image, the rest will follow. You might be surprised at how much reinventing your look can reinvent your mindset. But before anything else can be accomplished, you have to start by rethinking your color-scheme.

In living color

Both common sense and image consultants say that color is an easy, quick way to improve your look.

"When it comes to image, color comes first, before style and design," says Yu Ximan, a Japanese-Chinese regarded as the pioneer of color counseling in China. "Various researches have shown that color accounts for at least 60 percent of one's first impression." However, when people think of makeovers, most neglect the power of color, because they think they already understand it, says Yu, who in 1998 founded the country's first color counseling company, Beijing Ximan Colour.

"Color application is in fact a far more complicated science rather than common sense," Yu says. "Most people can tell the difference between red and blue, but few know the difference between sea blue and sky blue. It is entirely possible that the former brightens up your face, while the latter washes out your skin completely."

The reason for this, Yu explains, is that sea blue is a cool color, while sky blue is a warm one. "Most people are best suited for one of the two color regimes," she says.

According to Wang Yun, a color and image consultant with Beijing Ximan Color, most people choose colors according to their personal preferences rather than a good knowledge base of the colors.

"In fact, one's personal liking doesn't necessarily guarantee that one will choose the most flattering color for oneself," Wang says.

Upon each clients' first visit, Wang would ask the customer about his or her favorite colors. And about half of the time, she says, the responses wouldn't match the person's optimal color scheme.

"I can't remember how many times I have seen orange immediately put a smile on the face a client who claimed grey and black were her favorites," Wang says. "Most people tend to describe a color as being beautiful or ugly. In fact, every color is beautiful, as long as it suits you."

Yu says that the success of a color makeover hinges on a person's knowledge of what color is most becoming of her, as well as an understanding of skin tone and hair color.

It might sound like tricky business, but most people who have given it a try with the assistant of a professional say the effect is instant.

Wang Sisi, a 28-year-old woman who works for a joint venture in Beijing, says she used to always worry about which outfit to wear and which shades of makeup to apply.

But after a few visits to a color and image consultant, she was able to make snap decisions.

Li Na, a 29-year-old nurse from Liaoning Province, found the benefits to be more fundamental. She says she once thought of herself as an introverted ugly duckling who found it tough to get a date on a Saturday night. But half a year after reworking her color schemes, she feels as if she's been transformed into a beautiful swan, attractive and brimming with self-confidence.

"I suddenly found myself under the spotlight," Li says. "My colleagues said I had improved my taste in style and color, and I seemed more confident."

However, Yu also says: "Art application is not a simple skill but rather, an art form. While most people can make an easy entry, it takes continued learning to reach perfection. But speaking from my personal experience, the efforts are worth it and will eventually pay off."

Brighten up my day

In practical terms, "Color is a powerful psychological tool," Yu says. "A good command of it enables you to adjust your mood appropriately.

"Every time I'm having a blah day, for instance, I put on an orange sweater that brings color to my face and wins me many compliments.

"However, if a sick leave is what I desire, I would consider a color that washes out my complexion to be a better idea."

The color of money

Color application is not confined to clothing and cosmetics. It plays an important role in every aspect of our lives. In the long run, one's management of colors will eventually become a valuable asset to one's life, Yu says.

"Aristotle said: 'It is harmony that gives rise to the feeling of beauty'. In essence, one's striving to achieve beauty is in fact a practice of one's ability to achieve harmony. This ability allows one to be more composed and flexible, which in the end makes one more successful in both life and career."

(China Daily 12/26/2007 page4)