If your gym is jammed, hang in there and it will soon return to normal. Why? It’s that time of year when people make commitments they won’t keep. Whether you want to increase business, stop yelling at your kids or put more well into your being, here’s what you need to know to make it happen for real, not just on paper.
Although speaking of paper, write down what you do want to accomplish. Study after study shows the power of not just thinking it, but inking it. When I worked for sales guru Brian Tracy, he suggested we commit a few minutes each morning to re-writing our goal down as a positive affirmation. No matter what happened the day before, that morning ritual was a way of enjoying the art of a fresh start. (If you want to know what a SMART goal or positive affirmation sounds and looks like, use my other brain, Google, to collect this info.)
Dare to share. When we out ourselves, we’re more likely to follow through so tell like-minded friends, family, and colleagues your intentions. Notice the emphasis on the word, like-minded. Avoid sharing with anyone who will sabotage you given their agenda.
Start small. I don’t care if you want to make one more outgoing call, walk 5 minutes in one direction and turn around, get up and hug family when they return home, power off during dinner or power on with one fewer cup of caffeine. Everything counts, and our daily choices make the difference. Starting small and having success creates momentum.
Start already. Who says diets have to start on Monday? Trust me I understand that thinking. I wasn’t 50 lbs. overweight for years without owning that belief, but now I realize every day is the perfect day to begin.
Substitute habits. When you change a behavior, substitute, rather than eliminate a habit to up your odds of success. For example, if you normally snack at 3 pm, rather than cut yourself off completely find a healthier alternative. I still reach for Jolly Time Fat-Free popcorn when I want to mow through a row of Thin Mints (what an oxymoron).
Get Real and Heal. You will never get what you really want until you get honest about why you’re getting in your own way. Until you face your truth and acknowledge what’s really getting in your way, your goals will always be out of reach. Whatever you shove down to avoid your truth, slows you down and eventually you stop. To truly accomplish your goals, you’ve got to feel, deal and heal. If not, you’ll float back to old habits and behaviors.
Get Support. Perhaps you need a great ear (therapist, friend), a great group (Weight Watchers, AA) or a great individual (coach, personal trainer) to help you along. Remember, one of my favorite sayings is Ask and You Shall Succeed. We often neglect to ask others to support us through personal growth and change to avoid looking weak or foolish. Put your pride on the side and ask.
Change takes time. I used to believe and teach that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. This is false. I’ve done the research, and this theory started because a doctor noticed an amputee took around 21 days to adjust to the loss of a limb. Newer research studied 96 people and noticed, on average, the participants took about 66 days to make a habit automatic. I’ve been dealing with NOT putting too much food in my mouth for over 30 years, so my theory is a new habit doesn’t happen overnight. But it happens more easily when you take action daily to keep your focus and momentum.
