Every year, people declare their intentions to lose weight, exercise more often, stop smoking, or make some other change in their habits. We are aware of a few key areas in our lives that could benefit by some improvement and we resolve to make the change. Yet, nothing changes and we come back to the mirror, or to family gatherings, seemingly resigned to our fate. Inside the frustration grows at our inability to affect change.
This resolution is not new. You are aware every day, perhaps year after year that improving this one area of your life is desirable and potentially necessary to a happier and healthier life. You allow yourself to be distracted from persevering in making any lasting change by listening to others, by delaying when you will start to make the change and by being too busy. All seem like good excuses at the time, but they are just that; excuses.
The truth is, most of us don't like change, even if we know the change will be good for us. We deal with so much uncertainty and so many challenges in our daily lives that taking on a new program to change some aspect of our lives seems overwhelming.
Making the change can be very difficult, or we would not find ourselves repeating the same old resolution each year. You have a dream about what the end state looks like; that new svelte body after losing thirty pounds, or finishing that half-marathon coming up this spring. What escapes most people is a commitment to the process of reaching that goal.
It helps to choose one change at a time. Decide the most important thing you want to change and commit to it before anything else. This requires mental discipline. We sabotage our efforts by not believing the messages we tell others about our intentions. This requires an attitude adjustment from being on a diet to changing my entire nutritional approach to food. It means shifting our thoughts from the discomfort of exercise to the benefits we gain each time we do it, like immediate stress-relief and improved circulation and cardiovascular systems. It also requires sticking to a plan.
Depending on your favorite guru, converting a new idea for change into a routine takes 21, 28, 30 or 40 days. The truth is the number of specific days does not matter at all. What matters is developing a specific plan, establishing a routine and then acting on it every day and at every opportunity until it becomes second nature. It becomes a habit when not doing it causes you to feel like something is missing. It becomes a habit when sipping sweetened ice tea makes you want to gag at the sweet taste. It becomes a habit when you stop promising to do it because it has become part of who you are.
Once you experience the benefits of the change in improved health, fitness, relationships and more, you will be motivated to stick to the program. After forming a new habit an area most important to you, you'll find that committing to and making other changes is a lot easier.
Patrick is a coach, speaker, and trainer to individuals and business leaders. He helps leaders to achieve success by clarifying their vision, strategic plans, leadership, change management, brand and marketing strategy. He helps individuals to remove self-limiting beliefs and fears that prevent them from acting on their goals and dreams. 615-261-8585 http://www.patrickgsmyth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Patrick_Smyth/33422
This resolution is not new. You are aware every day, perhaps year after year that improving this one area of your life is desirable and potentially necessary to a happier and healthier life. You allow yourself to be distracted from persevering in making any lasting change by listening to others, by delaying when you will start to make the change and by being too busy. All seem like good excuses at the time, but they are just that; excuses.
The truth is, most of us don't like change, even if we know the change will be good for us. We deal with so much uncertainty and so many challenges in our daily lives that taking on a new program to change some aspect of our lives seems overwhelming.
Making the change can be very difficult, or we would not find ourselves repeating the same old resolution each year. You have a dream about what the end state looks like; that new svelte body after losing thirty pounds, or finishing that half-marathon coming up this spring. What escapes most people is a commitment to the process of reaching that goal.
It helps to choose one change at a time. Decide the most important thing you want to change and commit to it before anything else. This requires mental discipline. We sabotage our efforts by not believing the messages we tell others about our intentions. This requires an attitude adjustment from being on a diet to changing my entire nutritional approach to food. It means shifting our thoughts from the discomfort of exercise to the benefits we gain each time we do it, like immediate stress-relief and improved circulation and cardiovascular systems. It also requires sticking to a plan.
Depending on your favorite guru, converting a new idea for change into a routine takes 21, 28, 30 or 40 days. The truth is the number of specific days does not matter at all. What matters is developing a specific plan, establishing a routine and then acting on it every day and at every opportunity until it becomes second nature. It becomes a habit when not doing it causes you to feel like something is missing. It becomes a habit when sipping sweetened ice tea makes you want to gag at the sweet taste. It becomes a habit when you stop promising to do it because it has become part of who you are.
Once you experience the benefits of the change in improved health, fitness, relationships and more, you will be motivated to stick to the program. After forming a new habit an area most important to you, you'll find that committing to and making other changes is a lot easier.
Patrick is a coach, speaker, and trainer to individuals and business leaders. He helps leaders to achieve success by clarifying their vision, strategic plans, leadership, change management, brand and marketing strategy. He helps individuals to remove self-limiting beliefs and fears that prevent them from acting on their goals and dreams. 615-261-8585 http://www.patrickgsmyth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Patrick_Smyth/33422
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