It’s early February, about the time for all good New Year’s resolutions to have settled quietly into the distant exuberance of Jan. 1.

In fact, according to New Year’s resolution statistics at http://www.statisticbrain.com, almost 92 percent of people either have infrequent success or fail in their resolutions each year.

But why is that? Do we really NOT want to lose our muffin top, get in shape or stop cussing thunderclouds? Clearly some resolutions are a “should,” not a “must,” but many people have the best of intentions to improve their lives.

So, what do you do? One idea lies in the most unlikely of places: the  Japanese manufacturing philosophy known as Kaizen, which translates into “small steps, major changes.”

In his book “One Small Step Can Change Your Life,” Robert Maurer, PhD., writes that big goals trigger big fear.

The amygdala, often called the “reptilian brain” and the on-off switch for the fight/flight/freeze response, is wired to see major change as major danger. It can try to stop us any time we stray out of our normal, safe routines.

But our lizard brain doesn’t know the difference between our deciding to venture into saber-toothed tiger territory or venturing into (or out of) a new relationship, job or creative passion.

And when its fight/flight/freeze system gets activated, it causes physical changes, including shutting off or slowing down access to the cortex, our “thinking brain” and center of our creativity and problem-solving ability.

So, one solution around this issue is to quietly tiptoe around the amygdala by taking small steps, Maurer says. Instead of broadcasting on Jan. 1 that you will lose 50 pounds by Fat Tuesday, you decide to eliminate dessert once a week, or walk up one flight of stairs daily. And before you know it, the small change takes hold and your progress accelerates.

Small steps can apply to other areas of life as well – paying a coworker a small compliment, smiling at the Starbuck’s barista, letting someone merge in front of you in a traffic jam. These things, while they certainly help make others feel good, benefit us as well in the form of lowered stress, a sense of fulfillment, and an uplifted mood.

What’s one small step you can take today?