January 2007 Newsletter

Section 1 - Resolutions for 2007
Many people make New Year resolutions, but how many of them follow through on it? This newsletter will hopefully give you some good tips and ideas to put you in the right direction of accomplishing your goals.

First, let's look at the word "Resolution". The meaning of this word is "a resolve or determination, as upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc." In order for anyone to be successful with their New Years's Resolution, they must have a game plan. Here are some tips:

Weight Loss Tips
1. Make sure you have a balanced meal and you are eating right to support your weight loss goals. For example, a great book about how much protein you need based upon your body weight is called, "40-30-30 Fat Burning Nutrition". This book is especially important if you are stuck with your weight and exercise has not been enough for you.
2. If time and exercise is an issue for you, a great book called, "8 Minutes in the Morning" may work.
3. Accept that change can be a slow process. Just remember that change is only a matter of time. You must make a lifestyle change if you plan to keep the weight off.
Throw the diet concept out of your mind and embrace that you want to be slimmer to have a fitter body and healthier life.
4. Become conscious of the foods you eat. Be conscious of how you eat. Remember, it takes 20-minutes for your brain to register with your stomach that you are full.
5. Drink your water. Not flavored water, real water. You can add some lemon, lime or orange to naturally flavor your water. Stop drinking the soda.

Stop Smoking Tips
1. Try to find what triggers you to smoke (stress, people, boredom, social pressure, etc.).
2. Find out what you get out of the smoking habit. Does it relax you, does it give you a time out from your kids, does it give you an excuse to take a break at work, etc.?
3. If you will not stop smoking for yourself, use leverage (do it for your kids, spouse, partner).
4. Remember, the patches can have more nicotine in them. Just watch that movie, "Thank you for smoking".
5. Why people get a low feeling when they stop smoking is each cigarette has a teaspoon of sugar. How many cigarettes do you smoke a day? Your body has adjusted to the sugar demands. Therefore, your blood sugar gets low and you have a reaction. So, eat some carrots or drink some water with lemon. It will help balance your blood sugar levels.

Alcohol Tips
1. Write down your reasons for cutting down or stopping. Why do you want to drink less?
2. Set a drinking goal. Choose a limit for how much you will drink.
3. Keep a "diary" of your drinking.
4. Keep a small amount or no alcohol at home. Don't keep temptations around.
5. Drink slowly and sip. Take a break of 1-hour between drinks.
6. Drink some "Tension Tamer Tea". This tip helped everyone!

Remember "Yesterday's thoughts have created your present. Today's thoughts are creating your future." - James Newman

Section 2 - From Self-Doubt to Self-Devotion
Many people feel that something can be blocking them from accomplishing their goals. Many people have good intentions when they set their New Year's resolutions, yet they get caught up in self-doubt. When you look at the word "self-doubt", it means "lack of confidence in the reliability of one's own motives, personality, thoughts, etc." You may want to ask yourself this question, "Do you justify your behaviors or make excuses for your actions?"

Sometimes we can get intimidated by someone's success and decide to just give up. For example, it can be hard when your friend has lost weight and you have not. Sometimes people can fuel the self-doubt and expect you to fail. Some people can actually want you to fail because it gives them a sense of power. I would say that at least 50% of the women I have met for weight loss do not tell their husbands they are doing hypnosis because they have failed at so many diets in the past. If any of this applies to you, ask yourself these questions:

"What needs to be present for your problem to be solved?"

"What are your impact words?"

Just let them flow and once you have those impact words, you can focus on creating a solution. Write them down.

Just consider what happens to your "problem", in light of who you are and what is within you NOW.

Next, you need to make a pledge to yourself for physical and emotional health. That is why I chose the word "Self-Devotion". It means "dedication of oneself to an activity, ideal, person, etc." A good pledge to yourself could be:

"I will give to myself as I give to others.
I will value my health as I value the health of my loved ones.
I won't ask, "should I or shouldn't I?" about matters of self-care. I will just do it.
I humbly accept that I must work to be the best me I can be.
I will choose to work for myself, rather than abandon myself.
I will embrace adversity as an opportunity to test my mental and physical strength."

This pledge is from Dr. Pamele Peeke book, "Body for LIFE for Women."

I have told many clients at times to keep your goals private until you own them. Meaning, you do it everyday and now it is a part of your lifestyle.

Section 3 - Dealing with Negative Self-Talk
In this newsletter I am giving you a FREE MP3 exercise to help change that negative self-talk. This exercise incorporate a NLP technique. I feel this exercise is very important in accomplishing our goals. Why? If you get honest and real with yourself, the only one who let's you down from accomplishing your goals is yourself. You are the one in charge of your life. Regardless of any outside influences or distractions, the bottom line is you have a "choice". One of my favorite quotes is...

"There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. And you must always keep in mind, the choice you make, makes you." -Anonymous

I have met hundreds of people and at least 80% of them mentally beat themselves up and think limiting thoughts. Most people do it and don't even realize it. Here are some examples.

1. I look fat.
2. I am so stupid.
3. I blew my diet again, so I might as well eat this cookie.
4. I don't deserve to be happy.
5. I can't stop myself, so I might as well do it anyway.
6. I am not attractive enough.
7. He/she would never be interested in me.
8. What do I have to offer?
9. I never have money.
10. I don't have the strength to stop drinking.

Therefore, we all have to become aware of our internal dialogue. Let's face it, we can be harder and harsher on ourselves. We would not say these things to our best friend, partner, children? So, why do we do it to ourselves? Who taught us these behaviors?

You need to embrace the self-devotion if you plan to accomplish your New Year's resolutions. The most important aspect of accomplishing any goal is to come from a place of joy, happiness, feeling good, alive, optimistic, etc. Just give yourself an extra 10% each day and you will feel better about yourself. Expect a few road blocks and just keep moving forward. Find something that gives you a sense of relief. When I feel stuck, I ask the universe to give me a sense of relief in this situation. I always try to look outside the box, instead of getting stuck inside it.

READER’S COMMENTS
If you have any questions or comments regarding this newsletter, hypnosis, guided imagery or if you would like to suggest topics, please feel free to send me an email at empoweredwithin@yahoo.com .


CONTACT INFORMATION
Kerie Logan, CCHT at www.empoweredwithin.com
email: empoweredwithin@yahoo.com .
P.O.Box 4683, Salem, Oregon 97302