It's that time of year when most people make those dreaded New Year's resolutions for the upcoming year. It is also that time of year which frustrates 90+% of the population because they don't follow-through with those resolutions. What are the top 3 New Year's resolutions? Stop smoking, lose weight, and more exercise! Which one or ones are you thinking of making?

Why do we fall prey to New Year's resolutions? Why do we get mad at ourselves when the resolutions seem to fail so quickly? Well, New Year's resolutions are a classic example of the struggle between our conscious and subconscious mind. On the conscious level we buy into the societal game of setting resolutions (goals and new habits); but we forget about our subconscious mind. It's that subconscious power which determines whether our resolutions will fail or succeed. That is why so many of those good-intentioned resolutions fail. Let's see how we can be a success by unlocking that hidden mind power!

Sometimes it is a simple terminology issue. Most of society uses the phrase 'weight loss'. The word 'loss' to the subconscious is the self-defeating element in the weight game. What happens when we lose something? Of course we want to find it! Therefore, there is a constant struggle of losing weight and then finding it, again and again - it turns into a never ending cycle. So how does reprogramming the subconscious help with weight? Well, my hypnosis weight CD is called Weight Release. The word 'release' is the key. When we release something we let it go and we are not interested in finding it again. Thus a small change in terminology can greatly increase your results to have a successful weight release resolution for 2008 while successfully engaging the subconscious mind.

Another terminology issue that the subconscious mind does not recognize is a negative word preceding the subject of the sentence. Words like: non, not, or don't when they are placed in front of another word are detrimental to the subconscious. So phrases such as: "I want to be a non-smoker" or "I don't smoke" are doomed for failure because the subconscious removes those negative words and only sees the subject after it. When you say, "I want to be a non-smoker" - the subconscious sees and implements the phrase, "I want to be a smoker" and likewise with the other example, it sees and implements "I smoke". Thus, you continue to be a smoker and you have not engaged the power of the subconscious to help you become a smoke-free person. Therefore, we need to reframe that phrase into a subconscious empowering manner - "I am a smoke-free individual" or "I am smoke-free". Also, if you noticed, I added 'am' instead of 'want' which now puts the phase into a present tense (the here and now) instead of a future 'want'. Phrases are much more powerful to the subconscious in a present-tense form versus a future-tense statement. I know that this may sound trivial, but it is essential in the programming of the subconscious mind. If you implement these and other terminology changes in your resolutions; you will see a positive change in your life.

The power of emotion in our goal setting and decision making processes is paramount. You must attach a strong emotional motivational feeling to your resolution for it to take hold in our subconscious mind. Associating an emotional trigger such as: joy, love, celebration, peace, tranquility, and happiness to the resolution will help ensure its success. Look deep inside for some internal emotional triggers that you can associate with that new behavior or goal (resolution). Visualize the feeling of joy and happiness as you workout on the treadmill.

Work at it! Depending on which research you read, it is said that it takes 21-30 days to change a habit - it doesn't matter whether it is a good habit or a bad habit. A habit is a habit (smoking, going to the gym, eating healthy, etc.). Once you dedicate yourself to that process for 21-30 days, it becomes ingrained in your subconscious process and is basically second-nature. Do not give up after a week or two, stick with it for 3-4 weeks and then see how successful you will be.

"The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds." - Albert Schweitzer

Our subconscious mind is the most powerful tool that we have available to us - use these tips to harness its power and give you that positive motivating edge which you need to fulfill your New Year's resolutions.