The A.R.T. of Change - Just in Time for Your New Year's Resolutions!

Many of us have created a list of New Year's resolutions to mark the beginning of 2008. And many of us will be disappointed in a few days or weeks as our resolutions fade away, or hang over us as unfinished business.

What is it that makes sticking to our resolutions so difficult? How can we be so positive about our intentions, and then proceed to sabotage our efforts in a matter of days?

Change is not easy for most people. We seem to prefer to resume our more familiar ways of being, even if we consciously desire different results.

I call the process of successful change the A.R.T. of Change. In future newsletters we will go more deeply into these steps, but for now I offer an outline to successful change. As you might have guessed, there are some A-words, R-words, and T-words in this outline.

Acknowledge where you are right now. What about yourself or your circumstances would you prefer to be different? Do you remember the Contrast Exercise from the October newsletter? That is a helpful tool to move you into the next step. www.AskSusanNelson.com/articles.html.

Ask for what you desire to manifest. Not what you think you should ask for, or what someone else believes you should ask for, but rather - what are your heart's desires? Of course, you can ask for little changes too, but I encourage you to include at least one Big Dream on your list.

Develop awareness of your limiting beliefs. Do you have an inner voice telling you that you could never do that, or you don't deserve it, or the world is a difficult place? What you believe is what you perceive, and what you perceive affects what you receive.

Release your limiting beliefs. Joe Vitale calls this "The Missing Secret" of the movie "The Secret". There are several extremely effective methods to dis-empower your negative beliefs, such as E.F.T. (emotional freedom technique) and self identity Ho'oponopono, which we will discuss more completely in future newsletters.

For now, notice your self-talk about why you can't or don't achieve your goals. Talk back! Appreciate that you possess an inner genius which has the power to design and create the very life you desire.

Rehearse your perfect outcome. Imagine it as if it were real right now. How do you feel, how are you breathing, where are you, what actions have gotten you to this wonderful place of success? What we rehearse is who we are.

Repetition is the key to Olympic athletes' success, and it is the key to your success as well! You practiced lacing your shoes and driving a car before you became proficient. Practice being the person you wish to become.

Train your subconscious mind. Your conscious mind is only 10% of your mind power, and that is why resolutions lose their steam. Your subconscious mind operates 24 / 7, and is your ally in turning resolutions into habits.

The subconscious mind is most accessible when the conscious mind is sleepy, so remind yourself of your goals and your plans just before falling asleep, and just after waking up in the morning. Trust the Universe to provide, and believe in your power to create change.

And finally, treat yourself. Celebrate! Dance. Play. Laugh. Hug others. Appreciate beauty. Express gratitude. The law of attraction rewards you with like-kind outcomes to the emotions you feel. Reward yourself as results begin to show up in your life. Woo hoo!