FIVE things to DITCH today if you want to make a lasting change:
１ All-or-none mentality – this one kills the majority of changes we try to make. It MUST look a certain way or it’s not worth it. IE: the workout must be at least 30 min, the meal must be perfectly clean, and if I don’t get up super early I might as well just sleep in.
TRUTH: something absolutely is ALWAYS better than NOTHING!
２ Perfectionism – if I can’t do it perfectly and give my best effort, I might as well not do it or toss in the towel. So we skip the workout b/c we have to modify, we “fail” on our meal plan and decide we’ll just wait and “start over Monday,” or we don’t start the thing we want to do b/c we’re afraid we’ll fail or we think our situation has to be perfect before we begin.
TRUTH: A MESSY start is better than NEVER beginning!
３ Unrealistic Expectations – we think that change should happen in 2-4 weeks, and when it’s still clunky or feels hard, we toss in the towel.
TRUTH: LASTING change can take months! Why? Anytime you’re trying to create a new habit, it WILL feel clunky and hard after the “newness” wears off b/c it has not become 2nd nature. Difficulty is not always a sign to quit, it’s often a sign that you’re onto something, and you need to PRESS THROUGH.
４ Tackling ALL the things – we set out to change, and we tackle 10 things at once – we try to get up an hour earlier, drink more water, work out each day, overhaul our diet, and get more sleep. And we end up failing after a week or two b/c it was just TOO much.
TRUTH: You will get a LOT further starting with very SMALL chunks that are simply too easy NOT to do, and SLOWLY increase from there!
５ Trying to do it on your own strength – we tell ourselves that we “just need to try harder this time.”
TRUTH: If you are a Believer, you’re given a power that is made perfect in your weakness, and I think we often forget that we aren’t meant to do hard things alone! We’re meant to do hard things with the Spirit who provides all wisdom, knowledge, strength, perseverance, and a power that is SO far BEYOND our own.
Which number are you fighting against today? I’d love to cheer you on – we’re in it together!
