When it comes to making a change,
Most people would tell you that they don't enjoy change.
Change isn't always easy because humans are creatures of habit.
We want to maintain predictable patterns,
Habits,
And routine because they provide us with a sense of comfort,
Safety,
And security.
Even if we don't like change,
There are ways to make healthy lifestyle changes easier,
Especially when we are entering into new,
Uncharted territory.
These are three ways that can help to make lifestyle changes easier.
Number one,
Determine the pros and the cons.
If we know that we need to make a change in our life and we are not looking forward to doing so,
We can do this tried and true exercise that will make the change more manageable.
So take a sheet of paper,
And on one side,
Write pros,
And on the other side,
Write,
You guessed it,
Cons.
On the corresponding side,
You will identify the pros and the cons of the change to clearly see what the benefits and drawbacks might be.
This simple yet powerful exercise will help us to pinpoint what might be holding us back,
Which could then free us of the fear of change itself.
Seeing the pros and cons will help us to realize how it will benefit us to make the change we want to make.
This also allows us to warm up to the thought that change actually might be a good idea.
Number two,
Make the change gradually.
Another way to make lifestyle changes easier is to work our way up to them.
For example,
If the healthy lifestyle change that you need or want to make centers around stopping your habit of smoking,
You may not want to quit cold turkey.
Instead of adopting an all or nothing approach,
You can work your way up to your ultimate goal.
For example,
Stop smoking one pack of cigarettes per day and start by smoking three-fourths of a pack of cigarettes each day.
As you get comfortable with three-fourths of a pack per day,
Try smoking a half of pack per day and continue until you are physically and mentally ready to adopt the lifestyle of a non-smoker.
Making changes gradually helps us to practice new behaviors,
Challenge negative thought patterns and get comfortable with the process itself.
Resistance is a normal part of the change process,
So give yourself permission to ease into it at your own pace.
Reason number three,
Use affirmations.
Another way to help make lifestyle changes easier is to use positive affirmations.
Positive affirmations are statements that encapsulate the way we would ideally like to think,
Feel or act.
You can create your own affirmations or select one that resonates with you.
The key is to choose an affirmation that speaks to you and that you can believe for yourself.
Words are powerful and when we repeat our affirmations,
They help to shift our mindset to one that is more positive and empowering.
When we change our mindset,
We change how we feel.
When we change how we feel,
We change how we behave.
Then we are able to change our lives.
If you're struggling with making a healthy lifestyle change,
Remind yourself why you want to make that change.
You could say something like,
I am in the process of becoming a non-smoker so that I can breathe easier,
Live a longer,
Healthier life and save more money.
When you repeat this often enough,
It becomes your response to the anxiety that can accompany the change.
This makes changes easier to handle.
Some lifestyle changes are harder than others to make,
Even when we really want and or need to make that change.
When you find yourself resisting a positive change,
Instead of giving up,
Remember those three tips that we just talked about.
Write a pros and cons list to identify the benefits of the change,
Then make the change gradually to give your mind and body a chance to grow accustomed to the change and use affirmations to shift your thoughts,
Feelings and actions to the support the change you want to make.
Changing for the better is not always easy,
But it is always worth it in the end.
So see it through to the finish one step at a time.
Thank you for listening and all the best to you with the changes that you're making in your life.
