If you’ve ever tried to change a habit and found yourself slipping back into old patterns, it’s not because you lack discipline — and it certainly isn’t a character flaw. It’s because willpower alone isn’t enough to create lasting change.

Most people approach change with determination and a good plan. They commit to the gym, set boundaries, quit sugar, or start meditating. And for a few days or maybe even a few weeks, it works — until it doesn’t.

That’s because change doesn’t stick when we rely solely on conscious effort. The conscious mind is logical, goal-oriented, and wants results. But it’s only a small part of the picture — roughly 5% of your mental processing.

The other 95%? That’s your subconscious mind — where your habits, patterns, beliefs, and emotional triggers live. It’s efficient, automatic, and doesn’t like change. So even when you know what you should be doing, your subconscious may be running an entirely different script.

And here’s the important part: your subconscious isn’t trying to sabotage you. It’s trying to keep you safe and comfortable, based on what it learned long ago. Unfortunately, many of those old patterns no longer serve who you are today or who you want to become.

This internal conflict is why willpower feels like such a struggle. You’re consciously saying one thing — “I want to stop procrastinating,” or “I need to make healthier choices” — while your subconscious is quietly pulling you in the opposite direction. And the subconscious usually wins.

That’s why lasting change often requires more than determination. It requires working with the part of your mind that actually drives your behavior.

Hypnotherapy offers a way to access the subconscious directly, in a safe and focused way. In a relaxed state, the mind becomes more receptive to positive suggestions, helping to shift the beliefs and patterns that have kept you stuck. Instead of forcing change, we make it easier to accept.

NLP coaching (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) takes a more structured, conversational approach to transformation. By examining how your mind processes information — through language, imagery, and emotion — NLP helps you break free from limiting thought patterns and create more effective strategies for success.

Both approaches are highly effective on their own, and even more powerful when combined. Together, they help align your inner programming with your conscious goals, so change feels natural instead of forced.

So if you’ve been trying to will yourself into a new habit or out of an old one — and it hasn’t worked — it’s not a reflection of your effort. It’s a sign that it’s time to change your approach.

Because real change doesn’t happen through force.

It happens from the inside out.

Jayne Goldman, MBA, C.Ht., is the Founder and Principal of Best Life Hypnotherapy in Los Angeles. She specializes in helping clients release emotional baggage and attain their goals through hypnotherapy, NLP coaching, and Time Line Therapy®. Her work empowers people to let go of the past and move forward with confidence and clarity.

Read the related blog here: https://bestlifehypnotherapy.com/thinking-thin/