Why Bother Making New Year’s Resolutions?

I’m not sure if anyone still goes through the process of writing down resolutions anymore but I’m encouraging it, even if you choose not to keep them. I hope this inspires you to consider mindfully putting a few down on paper.   I’m reminded of an old Chinese proverb: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” It doesn’t matter how long the list of resolutions is or how difficult the goals are, it’s the start that stops most people. If you are making resolutions, you are setting goals and identifying areas of your life that you would like to improve. If you are doing this you are being mindful and taking inventory of your life. That alone is a worthwhile activity. That is the first step in your journey.   Always begin by creating images in your mind of how you’re going to look and feel and sound when you have already accomplished your goals. Many people begin by imagining or recalling a time in the past when they failed and therefore plan to fail again so they either don’t bother or quit. Remember, you can’t fail unless you quit. Failure doesn’t exist unless you quit. Challenges and setbacks are only feedback or life lessons. If you learn from a mistake, it’s not a mistake. The most successful people in the world have had the most failures but they don’t call them failures. Yesterday’s experiences do not have to be an indication of future successes.   The New Year is the perfect time to do this. Another good time is your birthday. It’s another beginning of another year. As a former teacher, one of the best parts of the job was that it ended every year and I was able to begin every school year with renewed energy, new kids and new goals for how I would do better in the new year. If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.   Resolutions can be about improving your relationships, improving your habits, improving your attitude, giving back in some way or finding areas of your life that you feel need improving. Even just getting rid of clutter, one room at a time, can have a profound effect on your emotional health and attitude. These are the most common types of resolutions but you can be even more creative.   Every client that comes to me has a goal they haven’t been able to accomplish without help. Generally, all I need to do in hypnosis is uncover the positive intention behind the unconscious mind’s reason for the struggle. For example when someone comes for smoking cessation, the part of them that wants to smoke isn’t trying to kill them. That part believes it’s helping them to cope with their stress. When they establish coping skills without smoking, that part no longer needs to smoke. The same applies with every other bad habit. There is always a positive intent in the subconscious mind to comfort or to protect you against danger, real or imagined.   Have I inspired you enough to pick up a paper and pen and take inventory of your life? Are you willing to jot down a few things? I’d love to hear from you! It could be the best five minutes of your day!