This is a topic we all encounter in at least one critical area of our life, even if we’ve got it locked in in others! Because the topic is so big and multi-dimensional, this is Part 1 of a multi-part series.
You know you want something (to lose weight, save money for that dream vacation/house/car, de-clutter your
space, start a new business, take that seminar)... You start toward your goal with energy, enthusiasm, and excitement, and
before too long you’re heading back to where you started. What happened?
For me, this happens in the weight loss/physical fitness arena. Today I am re-committing to myself to eat and exercise consciously and consistently because I know how much better I feel and function all around when I do. So, it’s a good time to write this article!
Here are some reasons why I quit on myself – can you relate to any of them?
1. It’s hard! (Insert best whiney voice here!) Yes, it’s hard to create new ways. It’s hard to change. It’s hard to plan for healthy meals, find time and energy to work out, and it’s hard to resist temptations.
2. It’s not really “that bad.” I’m lucky that I don’t have to lose that much weight, and I can hide my problem areas very well with clothes (being tall pays off big-time here!). So, even though I know the truth of where the fat hides, what I’d like to look like, and how much better it feels when I start to firm up, slim down, and feed my body healthier food, it’s easy to lay off and convince myself that the current state isn’t “that bad.” I have no health threats, and my weight falls within the normal range.
Complacency sets in and I move nowhere or revert right back to my comfortable starting point.
This can easily happen when it comes to wanting to leave a job, end an unhealthy relationship, or change any habit.
Suddenly you find yourself in a bad way – now you have a health crisis, you get fired, and now you have to make changes from a place of panic and fear. This is not nearly as easy as it is when you are “simply” choosing to make a change.
3. The programs don’t work – maybe you (like me) have joined weight loss groups, paid a hefty sum for gym membership, subscribed to health magazines, enrolled in some classes, and maybe even enlisted a buddy to do this with you… and it’s still not working! What’s that all about?
It turns out it takes more than money and aspiration to make a change. It takes a true investment of the heart, of time, and of energy.
So, if you find yourself in a situation where things aren’t happening for you when you said you wanted change, ask yourself these question to see what might be getting in your way:
Am I really ready for this?
Is now the right time in your life to make this change or are other things going on to get in your way?
This is a tricky one because most likely there will never be a perfect time when all the stars and planets align, everyone in your world is supporting you, your finances are stellar, and there are no bumps in your road.
So, don’t let this become an excuse to not do what you truly want to do, but do notice if you might be piling on beyond what is realistic for you given your current life situation.
And, perhaps the most important question:
Am I really willing?
Am I really willing to do what it takes to create what I want?
Is it really worth it? Do I even know what it will take?
Will there be sacrifices, and am I willing to make them?
Creating change requires commitment, planning, consistency, support, and accountability.
Does it matter enough to me to get out of my comfort zone?
What’s in it for me to motivate me enough to take the necessary steps in a new direction?
Get quiet and take some time to reflect and journal your answers for yourself. See what comes up as you consider an area where change is not coming in the way that you’d like. Be brutally honest with yourself. There is no one here to fool.
Nothing to prove to anyone else. This is your journey to do in whatever way works for you.
Post your comments here and let us know what you’re learning about what’s getting in your way.
And, if you are really ready and willing, what will you do differently today to get going toward creating what you want?
It all begins with one small step!
You know you want something (to lose weight, save money for that dream vacation/house/car, de-clutter your
space, start a new business, take that seminar)... You start toward your goal with energy, enthusiasm, and excitement, and
before too long you’re heading back to where you started. What happened?
For me, this happens in the weight loss/physical fitness arena. Today I am re-committing to myself to eat and exercise consciously and consistently because I know how much better I feel and function all around when I do. So, it’s a good time to write this article!
Here are some reasons why I quit on myself – can you relate to any of them?
1. It’s hard! (Insert best whiney voice here!) Yes, it’s hard to create new ways. It’s hard to change. It’s hard to plan for healthy meals, find time and energy to work out, and it’s hard to resist temptations.
2. It’s not really “that bad.” I’m lucky that I don’t have to lose that much weight, and I can hide my problem areas very well with clothes (being tall pays off big-time here!). So, even though I know the truth of where the fat hides, what I’d like to look like, and how much better it feels when I start to firm up, slim down, and feed my body healthier food, it’s easy to lay off and convince myself that the current state isn’t “that bad.” I have no health threats, and my weight falls within the normal range.
Complacency sets in and I move nowhere or revert right back to my comfortable starting point.
This can easily happen when it comes to wanting to leave a job, end an unhealthy relationship, or change any habit.
Suddenly you find yourself in a bad way – now you have a health crisis, you get fired, and now you have to make changes from a place of panic and fear. This is not nearly as easy as it is when you are “simply” choosing to make a change.
3. The programs don’t work – maybe you (like me) have joined weight loss groups, paid a hefty sum for gym membership, subscribed to health magazines, enrolled in some classes, and maybe even enlisted a buddy to do this with you… and it’s still not working! What’s that all about?
It turns out it takes more than money and aspiration to make a change. It takes a true investment of the heart, of time, and of energy.
So, if you find yourself in a situation where things aren’t happening for you when you said you wanted change, ask yourself these question to see what might be getting in your way:
Am I really ready for this?
Is now the right time in your life to make this change or are other things going on to get in your way?
This is a tricky one because most likely there will never be a perfect time when all the stars and planets align, everyone in your world is supporting you, your finances are stellar, and there are no bumps in your road.
So, don’t let this become an excuse to not do what you truly want to do, but do notice if you might be piling on beyond what is realistic for you given your current life situation.
And, perhaps the most important question:
Am I really willing?
Am I really willing to do what it takes to create what I want?
Is it really worth it? Do I even know what it will take?
Will there be sacrifices, and am I willing to make them?
Creating change requires commitment, planning, consistency, support, and accountability.
Does it matter enough to me to get out of my comfort zone?
What’s in it for me to motivate me enough to take the necessary steps in a new direction?
Get quiet and take some time to reflect and journal your answers for yourself. See what comes up as you consider an area where change is not coming in the way that you’d like. Be brutally honest with yourself. There is no one here to fool.
Nothing to prove to anyone else. This is your journey to do in whatever way works for you.
Post your comments here and let us know what you’re learning about what’s getting in your way.
And, if you are really ready and willing, what will you do differently today to get going toward creating what you want?
It all begins with one small step!
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