The month of January can be gloomy and dull for many of us.
Christmas is over, you've spent all your money and now its a long month ahead with short days and nothing to look forward to.
Or is it?
It depends on your perspective. The New Year can be an exciting and inspiring time, if you want it to be. And one way you can get inspired is by making resolutions for things in your life you want to change or achieve.
Uh-oh, not that word again - 'Resolutions'. They never work do they?
Well some people make resolutions and then habitually break them all. Others just don't bother because they know they will never achieve them. But the reason they often don't work is because resolutions alone are not enough to create positive changes in your life.
As a list, resolutions can be a good starting point on your road to transformation but to make real changes in your life you are going to have to re-train your brain to avoid falling back into old habits and then cursing yourself for failing.
What you need is a plan, a method you can apply to any resolution you choose that will help you to make it a reality.
But my willpower is rubbish, I'll never succeed.
No-one can succeed with willpower alone - it is repetition that is the key to creating a new habit, or undoing an old one. And it only takes about 20 days to do this. If you do something for 20 days you will have literally changed your brain and created a habit that you will do automatically. Have you succeeded in learning to drive (or any other skill)?
Or, why not look at it another way. You didn't used to have that bad habit you want to get rid of - you had to persevere by using your willpower to create the habit through repetition. Once you had repeatedly done the thing that you now don't want to do, you stored it subconsciously and made it an automatic habit.
But before you can start on your plan for change - you need to get rid of your limiting belief that you can't succeed. You need to change your perspective so that you can embark on your journey for change with conviction.
And you need to consciously question that belief right now.
So, you haven't found the right way to make the changes you want so far, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. All it means is you need a fresh approach. You need to understand that any habits you want to break or make, need to be done or not done repeatedly for about 20 days in order for you to succeed. That's all it takes for any human being. It's how our brains work. So start believing in yourself right now.
If you think you will struggle to do or undo a habit 20 days in a row there are things you can do to help yourself along the way. It's a short road and its worth persevering to let yourself discover how great it is to make positive changes in your life.
To help you along your way I'm going to list a few examples of things that may appear on a resolutions list, some of the ways they can be made a habit and ways to overcome common obstacles along the way.
New Year's Resolution List 2012
1. Get fit and lose a stone
Plan:
Work out realistically the best ways for me to exercise more in my life.
Questions:
Can I walk/cycle to work or to the shops? Can I go jogging with the dog? Can I put music on when doing housework and make it a fun workout too? Can I join an exercise class? (Would I have someone to go with? How many times a week?) Can I do fitness at home with a DVD or on my games console?
Answers:
I have picked the best exercises to fit into my life - some are daily, like walking, cycling or yoga and some get my heart going like dance or aerobics, and I will need to do these 2/3 times a week.
List:
Find out when classes are, make sure they fit in with my life
Contact friend to make sure she can go
Book 1st class
Write in diary
Put reminder on phone re: each class for the next 6 weeks
Work out best times to walk/cycle/do yoga
Put daily reminder on phone for next 20 days re: walking/cycling yoga
Inspiration to help me on my way:
For next 20 days, at night and when exercising:
Picture myself wearing that outfit, with my tummy looking that good.
Picture it every night before bed and during times of exercising.
Feel how good it feels to be the new me.
Find ways to make me feel good about myself right now.
Other considerations:
Food - become more aware of what I'm eating and how it makes me feel.
Make changes in diet if I find I get too full or bloated or lacking in energy.
Eat and drink what makes me feel good.
Drink lots of water
And remember - if I struggle to remember to do anything I can remind myself in my diary or on my phone - I only need to keep this up for 20 days and I'll do it automatically then.
2. Stop smoking
Plan:
Work out best plan to cut down or stop safely.
Questions:
Do I need to seek advice from the doctor or NHS on the timespan for cutting down and stopping smoking? Do others in my household smoke? (How will they be affected? Will they join in with plan to stop?) Why did I start smoking in the first place? What are my reasons for smoking now? How can I satisfy the need smoking fulfils in a positive way? Will I need additional help from a holistic therapist?
Answers:
I have worked out my plan from cutting down to stopping smoking with my doctor and partner. I will learn basic EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping) - it's quick and easy to do and saves me money on other therapies because I can do it myself and its great for stopping any cravings in their tracks.
List:
Book a workshop or session with an EFT Therapist
Have a goal list for the next 3-6 weeks on the fridge on tick off each day as I succeed
Work out how much money I will save in a year
Work out the health benefits I will have
Inspiration to help me on my way:
At night for next 20 days:
Visualise things that I would like to do with the money I save.
Visualise how much better I will feel and what I will be able to do.
3. Get a new job
Plan:
Work out plan for possible career changes and how best to find opportunities and succeed at interviews.
Questions:
What jobs would I like to do? Do I need to do any training whilst I am currently working? Will I need to be self employed and therefore keep working part-time until business builds up? What employers/companies offer the kind of work I want? What experience will I need for these roles? How can I best update my CV for these roles? Who will I be competing with? Do I need to approach companies personally? Can I freelance to get known? Am I willing to move?
Answers:
I have worked out my plan of what types of jobs I would like and looked into potential companies in my area that I would like to work for.
List:
Get advice from others working in the field on the phone, by email or on LinkedIn or other social media sites
Gain qualification
Update CV
Apply for jobs - check out company websites, job sites and local paper
Practise interview skills with a friend
Learn about the companies I apply to
Inspiration to help me on my way:
At night for next 20 days:
Visualise myself in my new job - imagine how good it feels to be doing the job that I love.
I hope these examples give you some ideas for how you can turn your resolutions into realistic and achievable goals. Remember, sometimes we need a helping hand to let go of beliefs that hold us back and if you are interested in finding out more about therapies that may be able to help you or self help tools you can learn for yourself, please do not hesitate to get in touch
If part of your New Year resolutions is to take more time for yourself and relax then my show is just what you need. Every month for free, people come together to create and send out their positive intentions to themselves and others. It is a relaxing, uplifting and empowering experience and I guide you through it in the form of a visualisation meditation. You can learn more about my Picture Peace UK Show by clicking here
The Picture Peace UK Show has a brand new day and time-
You can now listen LIVE and connect with others on the last Saturday of every month at 11am. AND, as a bonus, if you miss Saturday's show, you can connect with others for the replay at 7pm on the Sunday.
Catch up now - www.tinyurl.com/ppukshow
You can listen as a guest on the day or sign up in 3 easy steps:
1. Click here and enter just a few details to register for FREE
2. You will then be taken back to my show page (Wendy Harmony, Picture Peace UK).
3. Click on the 'Follow' button on the right hand side of my page and you will automatically be invited to forthcoming live shows by email
NB. If you aren't taken straight to my showpage, just search for Picture Peace UK when you have signed up for Talkshoe and then click 'follow'.
By participating in the show you agree to the disclaimer.
Picture Peace Uk & Hypnosis 4 Harmony on You Tube:
3. Click on the 'Follow' button on the right hand side of my page and you will automatically be invited to forthcoming live shows by email
NB. If you aren't taken straight to my showpage, just search for Picture Peace UK when you have signed up for Talkshoe and then click 'follow'.
By participating in the show you agree to the disclaimer.
Picture Peace Uk & Hypnosis 4 Harmony on You Tube:
Hypnosis 4 Harmony
Watch my Hypnosis 4 Harmony video to learn about how the subconscious mind works and how you can use holistic therapies like Hypnotherapy and EFT to undo old unwanted habits and create new positive ones.
Picture Peace UK
Picture Peace UK
Take a look at the Picture Peace UK video to find out a bit more about my project and how you can get involved. I am offering an exciting opportunity for you to join in with others across the UK and experience a LIVE visualisation meditation. I will be your guide on this journey of finding inner peace and creating peace in your life. The best bit? It's completely free for anyone to join in and find out the benefits for themselves.
Like my videos and need a personal or professional video for yourself? If you are in the Gloucestershire area get in touch and I'll put you in contact with Videographer Jason Murphy - and you can enjoy a 10% discount for going through me.
Events
EFT TapFest, January 20th 2012:
http://tinyurl.com/cftvey2
The World Wide Energy Awareness Event: http://energy888.org/
Organisations/People of Interest
Celestine Vision, Global Prayer Project - watch their video at globalprayerproject.com/ (they have a similar vision to Picture Peace UK, however to join in live in the UK you would need to tune in at about 1am - its good stuff though, James Redfield author of The Celestine Prophecy runs the project with his wife Salle.
Action for Happiness, www.actionforhappiness.org/ (You may have seen them on BBC Breakfast, they are a fairly new movement for positive social change. They're bringing together people from all walks of life who want to play a part in creating a happier society for everyone).
World Peace Prayer Society, http://www.worldpeace-uk.org/ (Their mission is to spread the message 'May Peace Prevail on Earth', to help achieve harmony within the individual, in society, and with our environment, where 'peace' is seen as the highest aspiration of humanity).
The Big Peace, http://thebigpeace.com/the-90-day-programme/ (A Free 90 Day Coaching Program To Help You Finally Find Inner Peace And Contentment)
Related Articles:
Article: Picture Peace UK: Using EFT & Visualisation to create inner and outer peace
Article: Tapping into Feelings - Using Positive Visualisation with EFT
Hug Chain: When was the last time you really hugged someone?
Books (Links to these at Amazon opposite):
Bruce Lipton PH.D, Biology of Belief
Dr. David Hamilton, It's the Thought That Counts
Joseph Chiltern Pearce, Evolution's End
Amanda Lowe, Bliss
Joe Dispenza, Evolve your Brain
Jack Canfield and Eva Gregory, Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction
James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy
Joe Dispenza, Evolve your Brain
Jack Canfield and Eva Gregory, Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction
James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy
Films (Links to these at Amazon opposite):
The Secret
What the bleep do we know?
Water
Pay it Forward
Pay it Forward
