The start of a new year often feels mentally different, and during International New Year’s Resolutions Month, professional hypnotist Jesse Lewis says that shift naturally increases suggestibility.
“Transitions make attention more flexible,” Lewis explains. “When routines pause, the mind becomes more open to new ideas.”
Lewis says hypnosis relies on this same principle. Suggestibility increases when familiar patterns are disrupted and attention hasn’t fully settled into new ones yet. The New Year creates a psychological gap where expectations reset and old habits momentarily loosen.
“People are between versions of themselves,” Lewis says. “That in-between space is where suggestion lands more easily.”
As people set goals, consume advice, and reassess identity early in the year, Lewis notes that attention is actively searching for direction. That openness makes people more responsive to messages, beliefs, and narratives about change.
“The mind is asking, ‘What comes next?’” Lewis explains. “Suggestions answer that question.”
Having spent more than two decades performing live comedy hypnosis shows across Canada, Lewis says this is why January is saturated with advice, programs, and promises. “Everyone senses that attention is open,” he says. “That’s when influence feels strongest.”
By understanding why the New Year increases suggestibility, Lewis believes people can become more intentional about what they let shape their thinking. “Openness isn’t a weakness,” he says. “It just needs direction.”
Pull Quote:
“Suggestibility rises when routines pause and attention looks for what comes next.”
About the Expert
Jesse Lewis is a professional stage hypnotist with over 20 years of experience performing live comedy hypnosis shows across Canada. His work focuses on attention, audience engagement, and the psychology of suggestion.
Website: https://hypnotistjesselewis.com
Media Kit: https://hypnotistjesselewis.com/media-kit/
Media Contact
Jesse Lewis
Professional Hypnotist & Commentator
Email: jesselewishypnosis@gmail.com