Making Lifestyle Changes
Small Steps To Big Change
Making Big Change Easier
When we decide that it's time for big changes in our lives, it is wise to ease into them by starting small. Small changes allow us to grow into a new habit and make it a permanent part of our lives, whereas sudden changes may cause a sense of failure that makes it difficult to go on, and we are more likely to revert to our old ways. Even if we have gone that route and find ourselves contemplating the choice to start over again, we can decide to take it slowly this time, and move forward.
Sometimes the goals we set for ourselves are merely indicators of the need for change and are useful in getting us moving in the right direction. But it is possible that once we try out what seemed so ideal, we may find that it doesn't actually suit us, or make us feel the way we had hoped. By embarking on the path slowly, we have the chance to look around and consider other options as we learn and grow. We have time to examine the underlying values of the desire for change and find ways to manifest those feelings, whether it looks exactly like our initial goal or not. Taking small steps forward gives us time to adjust and find secure footing on our new path.
Life doesn't always give us the opportunity to anticipate or prepare for a big change, and we may find ourselves overwhelmed by what is in front of us. By choosing one thing to work on at a time, we focus our attention on something manageable, and eventually we will look up to see that we have accomplished quite a bit. Forcing change is, in essence, a sign that we do not trust the universe's wisdom. Instead, we can listen to our inner guidance and make changes at a pace that is right for us, ensuring that we do so in alignment with the rhythm of the universe.
What do you think?
When we decide that it's time for big changes in our lives, it is wise to ease into them by starting small. Small changes allow us to grow into a new habit and make it a permanent part of our lives, whereas sudden changes may cause a sense of failure that makes it difficult to go on, and we are more likely to revert to our old ways. Even if we have gone that route and find ourselves contemplating the choice to start over again, we can decide to take it slowly this time, and move forward.
Sometimes the goals we set for ourselves are merely indicators of the need for change and are useful in getting us moving in the right direction. But it is possible that once we try out what seemed so ideal, we may find that it doesn't actually suit us, or make us feel the way we had hoped. By embarking on the path slowly, we have the chance to look around and consider other options as we learn and grow. We have time to examine the underlying values of the desire for change and find ways to manifest those feelings, whether it looks exactly like our initial goal or not. Taking small steps forward gives us time to adjust and find secure footing on our new path.
Life doesn't always give us the opportunity to anticipate or prepare for a big change, and we may find ourselves overwhelmed by what is in front of us. By choosing one thing to work on at a time, we focus our attention on something manageable, and eventually we will look up to see that we have accomplished quite a bit. Forcing change is, in essence, a sign that we do not trust the universe's wisdom. Instead, we can listen to our inner guidance and make changes at a pace that is right for us, ensuring that we do so in alignment with the rhythm of the universe.
What do you think?
Women are angels.
...and when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly...on a broomstick.
We are flexible.
Darlene
...and when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly...on a broomstick.
We are flexible.
Darlene
Well, this sounds good, but it doesn't work for me. It must just be my personality type. When I try to make small changes and make them habit, I tend to backslide because the change was not dramatic enough. Then I sometimes have trouble discerning whether or not I am still on the right track. For example, when I quit smoking, I couldn't just cut down gradually. I had to out and out quit. Put them down, step away, never pick up another cigarette. I tried quitting gradually....not happening. I just didn't have the self control. This was also true for me with my relationship with my ex-husband. (By seeing that he is my ex, you can tell it didn't work out). We tried building our communication a little at a time, but communication must be continuous and consistent to be effective and we couldn't move into that slowly. It was too little too late.
I found that when I need big change I need to consciously take that BIG step. I need to be on a completely new path. My old ways, habits and conditions are the things that brought me to need change to begin with. I have the need to cast those things away and build new. Unfortunately I don't have a good foundation in the areas where I need change, so I need to relearn and adapt to that in an immediate, all out action. This is why WLS finally became the only option left for me. I kept trying to change my habits gradually and failed repeatedly. Then I took this huge step, relearned healthy eating strategies, and forced myself to adapt to BIG change. By doing this, I finally feel successful and healthy. Just as I no longer crave cigarettes, I am hoping that by making a drastic and radical change I will no longer crave binge eating. This has forced me to deal with my food issues all at once and face my demons.
