The secret to creating permanent change in your life is based entirely on creating new habits through baby steps!
Creating new habits is at the core of establishing everlasting change in any area of your life. Habits run our lives and being able to change them is amazingly powerful.
Believe me, I know –– it’s easier said than done. Most people are convinced that sculpting new habits takes a lot of both irksome work and strenuous exertion, so the majority of people give up quite quickly.
On the first day of a new year, for example, how many times have you heard people say, “I have to get in better shape this year.”
Subsequently, all of January and February, health clubs are overflowing with new memberships, and then each month thereafter, attendance tapers off more and more. Happens every year.
People innocently believe that habit changing is easy. In the case of the gym, for example, many folks believe that relatively overnight, they’ll go from the habit of fairly sedentary behavior to going to the gym and thus transforming their bodies into a glowing example of health and wellness.
Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to change a habit overnight.
A Simple System
I’d like to tell you how quick and simple it actually can be –– if you do it the right way. Let’s take the getting-in-shape example again…
First off, try to visualize what the changes will look like. If you haven’t been going to the gym up until now, you’ll obviously have to rearrange your schedule and routine to accommodate a new gym stop.
So as not to complicate your life, make it simple and doable. Don’t go to a gym that’s an hour away, for instance.
Secondly, start small. Begin with the things that you know you can succeed at.
The idea is to immediately connect your new habit to joy and satisfaction, thereby coaxing your brain cells to attach a reward to your new practice. By starting with something that’s easy for you, you can then begin to build motivation and inspiration from every ongoing so-called “win.”
Most importantly, however, if things aren’t perfect right away, try not to blame yourself and find fault.
Rather, stay focused on the next baby step that you know you can easily accomplish.
Thirdly, be realistic about your expectations. Achieving better health and fitness doesn’t happen overnight. Give it some time, be patient.
Try to be 100% committed and responsible… Stick to it.
A final tip is to get together with an accountability partner so that you can keep each other on track. In many cases, it’s easier to have a friend to help keep you motivated and vice versa.
Points to Remember and Implement in your Day to Day
The secret to executing permanent long-lasting change is to start small! Visualize your goal or desire, and then come up with a few small incremental steps to start you on your journey. I always tell my kids the way to eat an elephant is “one bite at a time!”
By far, the most effective and straight-forward way to create new habits –– that will stick –– is to break them down into small micro habits, thus implementing a “system” to set yourself up for continued success.
If you want to get in better shape, for instance, start with the micro habit of putting your gym bag and gym clothes out the night before.
If you want to get healthier, start with throwing out all the packaged and processed food in your pantry, and then toss out all the food in your refrigerator that will last for more than one week.
Success Is Only a Few Steps Away
Start small, start easy, set yourself up for success by establishing a “system” that serves you, and you’ll find it easier than you think, in less time than you can imagine!
To learn more, download my Free Ebook “3 Steps to Feel Great Right Now Regardless of Your Circumstances.” Get started mastering your mind and transforming your thinking.
Thank you Robert, you have reinforced the technique I have begun to implement into my daily living.