"The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them."
– Antoine De Saint-Exupery
When you want to change any established behavior, the attitude in which you proceed could make or break your progress. The power of your thoughts and belief in yourself is the most critical pillar toward behavior change.
In a nutshell, If you want to change, but don't think you can do it, then you are right! If you would like to change (understand that it won't be easy and you may make a few mistakes along the way) but honestly believe you can do it, then you're right as well! Although this may sound crazy to you, it is true. Self-efficacy, better known as believing in yourself, is crucial to progress and successfully reaching goals.
Anyone with a bit of experience trying to do something different will tell you that changing human behavior is complex. It is tough when the behavior we want to change is something we have been doing for years. Habitual, automatic behaviors are essential to our health and well-being, but old habits are hard to break, even if it's for the better.
Why is this such a difficult thing for so many of us?
For one, well-established habits have been hard-wired into our brains and have become automated. When we routinely do specific actions over and over, we don't even think about them anymore but do them without consciousness. These habits help our brain take a bit of a break from all the other decisions we need to make throughout the day and prevent decision overload and fatigue.
How are we supposed to build more positive health habits into our daily routine with what appears to be so much against us?
It's not as hard as we typically make it out to be. You want to start with the belief that you can practice new behaviors and make them permanent habits, then make sure to set yourself up for success!
How do you instill this "belief" in yourself?
The best place to start is to look at where you've been successful before.
Think about other times in your life when you have been successful at the same or similar goals.
What was happening at this time in your life that made your success possible?
How did you feel about your success?
What specifically did you do to achieve success?
What was your mindset at this time in your life?
Conversing with yourself (doesn't make you crazy) will help you reflect on solutions rather than problems, roadblocks, and excuses. Focusing on past success will discover personal strengths to empower you while establishing new healthy actions.
When you work with your strength, not your perceived weaknesses, you are more apt to establish new behaviors conducive to your true self. Focusing on what is working helps you slowly progress toward your desired best self vision with less effort than fighting against perceived deficiencies. You get more of what you focus on; therefore, focus on the positives and get more of them!
Once you've rediscovered your strengths, it's time to give yourself an attitude adjustment.
As you've learned, believing in yourself is vital to achieving goals, and most failed attempts are a lack of belief and not capability. Making changes to already established behaviors isn't the "boogie man" we make it out to be. A slight shift in thinking from an all-or-nothing mentality or a go big or go home philosophy can be the simple thing that makes all the difference this time and begins strengthening your self-efficacy.
An all-of-the-nothing mentality thinks that "I won't do anything if I cannot do everything." --
Unfortunately, this mindset generally leans to inconsistent action and doesn't work to your benefit when establishing permanent change.
Consistent action breeds success, and a difference in your "all or nothing" thinking to "something is better than nothing" will make all the difference. Change your self-talk from "if you cannot do a 45-minute exercise, I won't do it at all" to "Even if I don't have 45 minutes for exercise, I can still do 10 minutes and keep the ball of momentum rolling in my favor".
Go big or go home thinkers believe that to experience significant change, you have to do big things.
This thinking could not be further from the truth!
The truth is that considerable change happens from consistently doing small things over time. You are always better off doing something small every day than something big now and then. Success comes from consistency - pure and simple.
Now that you've discovered your natural strengths and adjusted your attitude about how change happens, you're ready to put together a plan and take some real-life action!
The best way to start something new is to start with something you know you can do.
Note to self…if the thought of adding this new action is making you overwhelmed, anxious, or providing feelings of personal doubt, then it is too much at once. Think smaller!
When you desire significant changes, you must start by adding one tiny action you know you can repeatedly take over a long time. The main objective is to begin rewiring the brain with this new action and not overhauling the entire system. Remember that action must come before motivation, not the other way around.
Going small at first and growing from there is proven by behavior change scientists because it is less overwhelming and more doable; therefore, it breeds more progress and success.
The key here is doing! Not thinking about putting it off until tomorrow or thinking you have to make a BIG change to make a difference. It is in taking action consistently that will take you down a path toward better health, fitness, and wellness.
Plan to be successful with something you know you can do and grow from there. Start with simple basics (even though you know you have done more in the past) and keep moving. Believe in yourself, utilize your strengths and natural abilities, and keep going no matter what life throws your way.
The wellness team at Living LEAN is here to support you in any way we can. Reach out to us for a bit of guidance if you need it, and we will get you on your way toward the happier, healthier, and purposeful life of your dreams.
Commenti