New Year's Resolutions

I write to you on 31^st December. It’s at this time of the year that people are contemplating their New Year's resolutions.

Wikipedia defines “A New Year's resolution” as “a commitment that an individual makes to a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change, that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until the set goal has been achieved, although many resolutions go unachieved and are often broken fairly shortly after they are set.”

It has become a tradition for many people that on 1^st January they will stop smoking , or go on a diet, or start doing exercise. So why is it that these resolutions are often broken so quickly.

We are constantly being told that if we want to succeed in life we should set goals. Goals should be reasonable, specific, measurable and time targeted objectives. Goal setting is a process that allows people to specify then work towards their own objectives.

Perhaps the main reason why so many fail with their New Year’s Resolutions is because the goals are not thoroughly planned or thought through, but are impulsive.

So what can turn a New Year’s Resolution into a reality? And how can hypnotherapy help?

Motivation – the greater the motivation to do something the more likely you will succeed. Suggestions given in hypnosis can increase one’s motivation for change.

For smoking cessation – write down all the reasons why you want to stop smoking. Take one day at a time. Hypnotherapy could help you by reducing or eliminating completely the cravings for cigarettes.

For weight control – don’t think of dieting, but of eating sensibly. Aim to slow down your eating (chew your food more!) and eat consciously. Drink more water (especially when feeling hungry). Hypnotherapy can help you programme your mind to new eating habits.

Chunking – if the goal is too great it becomes too much of a challenge. To help you succeedin such a goal, break it down in to smaller components if necessary. Eg a goal to run a 26 mile marathon next year could be too much of a challenge for someone who is not used to running. Break the challenge down into smaller chunks eg aim to run 1 mile by the end of the month, 5 miles by the end of three months, 10 miles by the end of six months and so on.

Have a Happy , Healthy and Prosperous 2007