The start of a new year is always a good time for making fresh resolutions about improving one's life. But these grand plans frequently founder for lack of motivation.

Gael Lindenfield is a psychotherapist, personal development teacher and author with a number of self-help books under her belt including her most recent, Self-Motivation, which aims to help readers develop the motivation and self-reliance needed to persevere with challenges.

Lindenfield's difficult childhood equipped her well for writing such a book. Her mother was an alcoholic, so she spent much of her childhood in care.

"I learned about the power of self-motivation at an early age," she writes. "In order merely to survive and achieve success of any description, I had to find the drive from within myself."

Lindenfield argues that self-motivation "has more strength, power and durability than any other kind." She concedes that it may take time and energy to build up, but, she says, it is superior to any of the external carrots (such as money or the prospect of promotion) which are dangled before us in an attempt to make us do things.

Her book is a self-help guide to developing personal motivation. She maintains it is a skill that can be of use to everyone in all walks of life from someone thinking of taking the plunge into self-employment to those who constantly give up on desired personal goals (such as giving up smoking or learning a language) for lack of motivation.

Lindenfield has identified no fewer than 36 secrets to successful self-motivation and they extend from systematic organisation and meticulous planning to building self-esteem and assertiveness. She also considers managing energy so as not to burn out, problem solving, and rewarding oneself for successes achieved.

Her style is easy and accessible and Self-Motivation costs £6.90 and is published by Thorsons.

Lindenfield has also written guides to asserting yourself, managing anger and developing confidence.