Supercharge Your New Year's Resolution!
Lucky Charms,
Gunnar Creutz, Falbygdens Museum, Sweden |
New Year's Resolutions have notoriously bad statistics. In fact, I remember when I did my hypnotherapy training, I learned that many practicing therapists prefer not to take on board any client who wants to, say, give up smoking because of a new year's resolution. The motivation factor in such cases is too low, which is an indicator for poor success rate. Most new year's resolutions are done out of tradition of a special day rather than a genuine personal drive. We all know the feeling: we say this and that, holding a glass of champagne in our hands, and forget the entire thing once we are back to every-day business.
However, I wouldn't see the matter quite so bleak and give our good old resolutions a proper chance. |
After all, if you formulated a wish to change, the desire is there, and your life is likely to become happier and more fulfilled if you could only stick with it. Instead of recycling your new year's resolution along with all the Christmas cards, empty bottles and wrapping paper, you can add a bit of magic to it and make it work on your behalf.
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A magnificent way to supercharge your new year's resolution and actually make it happen is to add creative visualization to your willpower. Willpower lasts only for as long as it is in harmony with the pictures and programs we have on our mind. In order to use creative visualization you do not need any fancy meditation techniques or years of experience. What you need is a quiet space for a few minutes where you can relax, and your childhood ability to day-dream: to make a scenario as real on your mind as possible. Then allow the power of your imagination to take over...
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Image Attribution: http://www.flagstaffotos.com.au/
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If your resolution is to give up a bad habit, like smoking or over-eating, bear in mind that it is psychologically impossible to simply give up something. Any habit we hold on to exists because it does us something good. Why would be giving it up then? If you smoke, it might be good for you, because it helps you to socialise with people (asking for a light can be a good conversation starter, for example). If you over-eat, that might comfort you and help you manage your emotions. Therefore, if you want to give up a bad habit, don't just decide that you want to give it up, but decide what you want instead. While it is virtually impossible to merely give up something, it is very easy to replace it with something better. So, for instance, if you want to give up over-eating, visualise all the good and pleasurable things that will come with losing weight. Actually make yourself feel so much better in your own life-style. Visualise honouring yourself and your body by giving it beautiful, colourful, fresh and live food, such as salads, fruits and vitamins. See yourself in a paradise setting, able to walk, run many miles without getting tired. Fall in love with your new Self, and visualise how attractive you are to yourself and others. Do that until this day-dream gives you greater pleasure than your comfort food ever did and it's virtually guaranteed that now you will stick to your resolution!
Many of us have heard the advice to visualise the result or the outcome of our goals. That becomes relevant if our resolution is not to give up, but rather achieve something: finally run that race, finally start that business, finally write that book, finally find that special someone, finally achieve a better work-life balance, manage stress, find peace and harmony. Visualising the end result can indeed be invaluable in such cases. Professional athletes use this technique just as much as they train physically: they are coached to mentally rehearse the positive outcome of their race or competition. It's powerful. It works.
However, doing this can be daunting, if your goals seems too big and too far away from where you are. What if you can't even believe that you can ever get there? What if the difference between your current reality and your dream is so great that thinking about it depresses you more than it encourages you? In that case, the answer is to chunk your goal down. Imagine time like a path taking you towards your goal, and visualise the steps you will take to reach it. What can I do today to get closer to my goal? What can I do this week? This month?
Many of us have heard the advice to visualise the result or the outcome of our goals. That becomes relevant if our resolution is not to give up, but rather achieve something: finally run that race, finally start that business, finally write that book, finally find that special someone, finally achieve a better work-life balance, manage stress, find peace and harmony. Visualising the end result can indeed be invaluable in such cases. Professional athletes use this technique just as much as they train physically: they are coached to mentally rehearse the positive outcome of their race or competition. It's powerful. It works.
However, doing this can be daunting, if your goals seems too big and too far away from where you are. What if you can't even believe that you can ever get there? What if the difference between your current reality and your dream is so great that thinking about it depresses you more than it encourages you? In that case, the answer is to chunk your goal down. Imagine time like a path taking you towards your goal, and visualise the steps you will take to reach it. What can I do today to get closer to my goal? What can I do this week? This month?
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Remember, dreams are rehearsals for new realities to come. Therefore, as we step into the new year, I'm inviting you to dream more, and to dream truly daring dreams, for – as Carl Sandburg says:
"Nothing happens unless first a dream." |