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Why Is It So Hard To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions To Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Or More?
No, you are not lazy or lacking motivation. In fact, we are all motivated either toward something or away from it. For instance, if someone "procrastinates" about doing the dishes, laundry, working out, or some other task, isn't it possible that they simply don't like to do this job? Thus, they are not lazy but merely motivated away from it. As for the other habits that are so often the subject of resolutions including losing weight, quitting smoking, or other behavioral changes, the issue of motivation can be a little more complex. When most of these habits were originally established, there was a positive benefit to the behavior, or at least a perceived one. When you were a child and you got to eat cookies, cake, junk food or some other "treat", it was a positive thing and may have even felt like a reward. And so, your unconscious mind connected eating sweets or junk food in a positive way. Or when you first started smoking, it was cool or rebellious, and that was a positive to you at the time. Fast forward a number of years and as an adult you know that smoking, or eating junk food or sweets goes directly against the goal that you have set for yourself to lose weight or stop smoking, and yet the pull to these things is very strong. This is because this deeper level of your unconscious mind is directing you to the behaviors that have a perceived positive benefit, the precise behaviors you are trying to change! Does this mean that your unconscious mind is just going to rule you and you should give up all hope of ever achieving your goals? No, the wonderful part about being human is that we are all capable of perceiving the desire for change and creating this perception as a reality, it just takes a little more effort. There are several ways to do this including using hypnosis, NLP, or guided imagery to change your unconscious mind. Some things that you can do on your own to begin to shift your unconscious belief systems about that habit that you are trying to change are: 1. Begin to explore patterns that present themselves to you including the triggers that drive you to the behavior. These may be thoughts, feelings, or even connected behaviors. 2. You can create a focused alternative thought that you can repeat to yourself several times a day to counteract the unconscious thought pattern. Even as simple a thought change as "I can do this." 3. You can begin to identify better ways to cope with your emotions. Include small solutions and larger ones such as simply taking three deep breaths or going for a walk. When you find solutions for coping with the emotions that were associated to the habit, the desire for the habit behavior will subside. 4. Begin to alter the behaviors that in the past accompanied the habit. As you eliminate these cluster behaviors the habit identified for change or elimination will not be so easily triggered. Eat meals at the table rather than in front of the TV or get up in the morning and eat breakfast or shower right away rather than going outside for a cigarette. As you begin to consciously take control of altering your unconscious thoughts and associations, you can you can begin to change your unconscious mind and make this the year that you keep that resolution. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Dr. Bobbie McDonald has her doctorate in psychology and is an expert in the fields of behavior and the unconscious mind. To learn more about Dr. Bobbie, the unconscious mind or hypnosis for weight loss, quitting smoking, reducing anxiety and other uses go to: GetWellNow.com |
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