If you want to burn fat and get fit, the first thing you need to do is get control over the six inches of gray matter between your ears. You may think that you already are in control, but the odds are against it. Most of us have learned some degree of control over our conscious thoughts, but in reality it is our subconscious mind that controls our actions. You see, we can decide whether or not to accept information that we receive consciously. If something doesn’t ring true, we just scoff at it and say, “I don’t believe that.” However, our subconscious mind accepts every piece of data that it has ever received from our five senses. Did you know that it is estimated that children hear the word “no” 40,000 times before they ever go to school. This is because adults were trying to protect them from injury. “No, don’t stick that in the wall plug. You could get electrocuted!” This constant repetition of negativity, reinforced by a statement of dire consequences, goes a long way toward developing a subconscious negative outlook. We can consciously say that we want to eat right and get into shape, and we can consciously believe that is the correct thing to do. Unfortunately, our subconscious prevents us from taking the correct path toward that end.
So what can we do to reprogram our subconscious? The three most common methods used to achieve this are meditation, hypnosis (both regular and auto-hypnosis), and the conscious practice of positive thinking. Let’s examine each of these methods.
1. Meditation. This is used by many people to help them calm their mind and balance their physical, mental, and emotional health. Many in the medical profession are recommending this practice as a way to relieve things like insomnia, anxiety, and even to lower blood pressure. Don’t get all hung up on the religious aspect of meditation. Concern yourself more with using this method to develop a sense of inner peace. A peaceful mind is less likely to act in a negative manner. There are many different ways to practice meditation, but I won’t go into them here. I just want to let you know that this is a viable option for you.
2. Hypnosis. While meditation involves the absence of all thought and to just be, hypnosis uses concentration on a specific thought in order to affect a desired result. This includes things like smoking cessation, burning off fat, reducing stress, or even pain management after surgery. The American Medical Association put its stamp of approval on hypnosis all the way back in 1958, and since then it has been used by countless people to take control over their lives. You have options here. You can go to a licensed psychologist who incorporates hypnosis into his treatments, you can learn auto-hypnosis and treat yourself, or there is my favorite, you can purchase professionally made CD’s and listen to them in the privacy of your own home. I think you will be amazed at how well these work to help you gain control of your life.
3. Positive Thinking. This is the first option that most people choose, most likely because meditation and hypnosis make them think of something they saw in bad movie or a phony stage show. Positive thinking isn’t something you can develop overnight. You have to devote a certain amount of time every day to practice this method. You must verbally speak positive messages. Remind yourself of specific times in your life when you successfully accomplished something. Think of awards that you won. Concentrate on how those accomplishments made you feel. Don’t forget to include any times when you set a goal for yourself and achieved it. Achieving goals is a tremendous confidence booster, and one thing that successful people have in common is self-confidence. While this is the most difficult of the three methods discussed, it is highly effective, so don’t shove it aside.
Please do not get discouraged because you have not been able to burn fat and keep it off. For those of you that think you have never succeeded at anything, I would like to remind you that once upon a time, you could not walk, talk, clothe yourself, feed yourself, tie your shoes, ride a bike, drive a car, or read this article. Those are some pretty impressive accomplishments, and you CAN go on to even greater achievements. I have confidence in you, but you must believe it yourself before anything will happen. Good luck, I’m rooting for you! Now, start gaining control over your life!
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