Success Secrets for New Year’s Resolutions
Many of us have made New Year’s resolutions. Very often they are the same ones year after year. We know that we really want to change something or to break bad habits. And we may even know what we want instead in order to instill new healthy patterns. So why is it that with all our resolve, with all our desires to change, many of us “fail” in such a short time?
Studies show it takes at least 21 days to remove an old habit from our body memory and establish a new pattern. (90 days for long standing addictions) So we need to recognize that there is an actual physical pull drawing us back to the old energy structure… this is like a matrix or framework that we have developed in our body/mind around a habitual behavior.
This is what causes the often overwhelming temptation to revert to your old patterns of addictions, of eating, and of other activity. Here at Putnam Healing Arts we have powerful tools and techniques that can help you restructure that old behavior and develop new patterns…
Follow these few simple steps:
~ Take inventory of all the tools that you have available to you and use them.
We have an abundant universe all around us. We have resources everywhere that we don’t use. We are starving in a field of plenty. We are just not seeing what’s all around us.
Energy Healing Techniques now offer us amazing, holistic, yet so simple tools to help us achieve our goals. See more on these Techniques.
~ Know how and why you are setting this goal…be very precise about what you are doing now and what you want instead.
Your goal may be to attain good health. But this goal involves a lot of factors. So being precise will make it more manageable and effective. There are tricks and tips to setting goals.
For instance:
After identifying a goal, Create a chart with five columns. Make it big such as on a poster paper or a large flip pad with colored sharpies.
In column one, write down the negatives or problems you want to resolve that are associated with not changing. For Example: (“Even though I hate feeling non-energetic and having this diagnosis of diabetes type 2”).
In column two, write a statement that separates the problem from your core identity. For Example: (“I still completely accept [or forgive, or honor] myself “).
In column three, write down a solution that you choose to apply to that problem. For Example: ( “and I will now choose to eat 5 servings a day of healthy fresh organic vegetables”)
In column four, write down the benefit of that solution on achieving your goal. For Example: (“so that my body can have a healthy pH balance and correct my blood sugar naturally”)
In column five, identify any emotions or body sensations or specific memories that come up for you with that and the intensity. For Example: (“Tension in my throat [sensation], or disgust [feeling], The time dad called me a fat pig when I grabbed a second helping. [memory]) What the intensity of that is on a 1 to 10 scale.
Make the lists as long as you would like, including every goal, problem, choice, solution, and sensation, feeling, memory that you come up with. It can be a powerful brainstorming session. Post your list where you’ll see it regularly and edit it regularly. Add new entries… issues, choices, solutions, goals, etc. as they come to you.
Review your chart daily and scan your body and mind throughout the day to connect with any resistance or conflict within you. It is important to acknowledge any emotion or sensation you feel with each of the reasons you’ve listed; but also do scan your body often as an exercise just for the practice. Go to our site to apply some of the powerful techniques, such as EFT to this chart and watch the amazing changes.
~ Keep a daily journal. Most often, it’s our non-conscious that triggers the chemical messengers that pull us back to the already programmed behavior that we feel stuck in. We are so accustomed to following this old program, that we do it without thinking consciously. (The behavior has become habitual.)
Maintaining a daily journal helps to keep you aware of your thoughts, actions, and emotions so you’re less likely to act without thinking or recognizing your feelings. You can write journal entries as they arise, and any old memories that come up. These are the things that you will use your new tools and techniques on—Also you will do powerful mental and visual exercises to move you toward goal. Then just before bedtime, write your list of gratitudes, summarizing how well you succeeded for each day, and things during the day that made you feel wonderful.
~ Reframe “failure.” So many people can recognize that they sabotage themselves by unconsciously slipping-up so that they can return to the relative safety of remaining where they are in the familiar old pattern. Even when they acknowledge this and know that they have come up with an excuse to chuck the whole thing and return to their old, well learned, familiar ways; they still may feel unable to stop themselves. This results for many a renewed feeling of being a “Loser”.
One way to avoid this feeling of failure is to view each slip-up as a learning cue. Thank you body instead for the message; and for trying to keep you safe. Perhaps you went shopping when your blood sugar was low, which prompted you buy a box (or two) of cookies — and then nibble them as you continued to shop. That’s a learning moment, not a reason to say: “I’m doomed to fail again, why bother?” Instead, make friends with your body, make sure you consume a protein-based snack before you go grocery shopping next time. And use your powerful new tools from your energy toolbox right there on the spot. Learn from your body’s messages.
~ Identify your triggers. People who tend to create new lifelong healthy behaviors do not “diet” (that word has “die” in it). Rather, they become familiar with their habituated triggers (people, places, and things) and prepare themselves in advance or when they suspect they’re going to be tempted. They apply their new learning and their amazing new techniques to remain in energy balance rather than in conflict with their own health goals.
Messages from the body are like little kids. The child will first ask to get a need met. If that part of you feels unheard, it will talk louder. Eventually, it will persist and shout at you. Finally, it will yell, pout, or throw a tantrum until heard. When you feel a powerful craving coming on, recognize this as a message from your body and listen, scan, and try to interpret. Assume the role of “parent” by remembering and asserting the benefits of why you are feeling compelled to take action and achieve your goal. This takes practice, which is the whole point. It’s not realistic to assume you’ll succeed your first time out — so expect to train your toddler part. But also trust and affirm that you’ll eventually figure out a way to become victorious if you honor all the parts in you and continue to stick with it.
~ Find a satisfying substitute. This is a clever way of dealing with kids and with strong feelings or cravings that come up. Play “Let’s Make A Deal” with your inner child. Tell that part of you that you’ll provide a time and place to work through that feeling later…then follow through later (keep your promise to yourself), and when that time comes later…use your powerful energy tools like EFT and release that feeling.
Often, the desire for something sweet is really a desire for the “sweetness” that’s missing from our life. Nourish your self and your creativity. Remind yourself that you are practicing new ways of finding pleasure in your life.
~ Reward yourself. Change is often made in small steps, and sometimes in giant leaps. Remember this and create ways to acknowledge your small successes as well as your large ones– and then honor yourself.
If you’re trying to shape up, create a vision board, with lots of images of what your life will look like; also make progress charts with lots of color marking the changes you are experiencing. (For example, weight, blood sugar, marathon training miles, organizing steps achieved, problems…issues…solutions charts)
With each success, treat yourself to a reward…maybe a nature walk in a new location … or a download of a new book into your ipod … or give yourself a high-5, a wiggle, or a dance, or a punch-the-air. Ask a friend to praise you. (even tell them what you want them to say, give them a sample list). If there’s no one around to praise you, download a free app or set an alarm at preset times to your phone to hear or read a recorded compliment whenever you like.
Remember: This is a journey and a process!
Most of all, be patient with yourself, embrace yourself, love yourself. You’re not going to turn things around overnight. This is a healing journey. Whatever it is you’re trying to change likely developed slowly, little by little. And the way you’ll correct it will also be piece by piece. But, with the tools we have now, it will take amazingly little time to release the problem compared to the time it took you to create it.
But, even at that, impatience will inevitably crop up and with your new tools you will address that feeling with ease. Affirm to yourself that even though this impatience is happening; I totally accept myself and my feelings; and I apply this new learning and new tools and new techniques; so that: “Day by day, in every way, I’m getting better, and healthier, and wealthier, and wiser.”
Check our Calendar. Come, visit us and rediscover yourself all over again!
HAPPY NEW YEAR from your friends at PUTNAM HEALING ARTS
Important Disclaimer: For our protection and yours, I want you to know the following information: The information contained on this page and on the website, including ideas, suggestions, techniques, and other materials, is educational in nature and is provided only as general information and is not medical or psychological advice.Transmission of the information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute a client-practitioner relationship or any other type of professional relationship between the reader and Putnam Healing Arts and should not be relied up on as medical, psychological, coaching, or other professional advice of any kind or nature.
Do not stop taking medication or treatment as a result of something you learned on this site.
Rather consult with your medical doctor or psychiatrist about that.
You are responsible for your own health and well being
