Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Willpower Is Doing It the Hard Way
Many people try to make changes through willpower alone, without first getting the agreement of the unconscious mind. This will feel like a slog, and usually fails; as soon as the person’s conscious attention is elsewhere, the unconscious mind goes back to its old habits.
Some motivational gurus talk of ‘mastering your self’, as if the unconscious mind as a lazy servant, to be punished if it gets out of line. But what if those suppressed doubts or inner reluctance turn out to be genuine concerns that were consciously overlooked? Far better to discover what you really want, at both conscious and unconscious levels, so you can get behind your goals in every possible way.
Recognise What Your Feelings Are Telling You
The unconscious mind communicates mainly through feelings. Have you ever taken a job, made a big purchase, or gone into a relationship despite having some vague misgivings, because rationally you could find no reason not to go ahead? If it turned out badly later on, you may have wished that you had paid more attention to that little voice of doubt. If you don’t feel 100% enthusiastic about a course of action but don’t know why, it may be a sign that your conscious mind has missed something.
Use Your Reason and Your Emotions
A decision based on gut feeling only, though, could turn out as badly as one that ignores your instincts. The ideal decisions are those in which you are conscious of an even balance between instinct and reason; a good decision will usually feel instinctively right and also make rational sense. When you need to make a major decision, ask yourself if your proposed action meets both these criteria. If it does, then you should act on it with confidence.
This post is one of a series about preparing yourself to clear the blocks to achieving your goals.
If you want to get a head start, why not download the Achieve Your Goals self-hypnosis audio?
It’s a dual-induction guided visualisation designed to help you get clear on what you really want and get the help of your unconscious mind in achieving it.
“My brain was totally scrambled at the beginning and I fell into a relaxed state almost straight away. Very relaxing! It’s really motivating and great to listen to at work. It took me away from my physical surroundings and into the place within me where my goals are. It made me take a step back from Tuesday morning at work and allowed me to see why I’m here and where I’m going.” – Heather Timm, studio manager
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