Ready, set, change

You may have to start and restart again a few times, because making a lasting change is difficult. The key is to get up and get back on your path.

by Diane R. Randall — 

Have you ever thought that you are just incapable of change? Making changes is traditionally difficult, but the good news is that it is never too late to make changes for the better.

Many of us already know that improving our state of well-being will help extend our lives. And the first step in that improvement process is to understand what is important to us and then determine the choices and decisions that will enable us to get where we want to be. Maybe you want to start a new career, lose weight, stop smoking or start exercising. Whatever the change is, be sure you understand why you want to achieve your goal before you begin the process.

Take a moment to think about a time in your life when you made a successful change or developed a new habit. What was your motivation for the change? What was your attitude at the time? What obstacles or barriers did you have to overcome?

Your level of readiness to change will determine how successful you are, and how long the process will take. Once you make the decision to change, you must practice that new behavior one day at a time until it becomes a habit — a lasting change.

To make a lasting change, start wherever you are, then stretch a tiny bit further, each time.

If you fall off the wagon or experience resistance, identify the cause or circumstances — who were you with, where were you, what was your emotional state at the time you stumbled?

You may have to start and restart again a few times, because making a lasting change is difficult. The key is to get up and get back on your path. But if you are ready and willing, you will be able to make lasting change happen.

Diane Randall is a certified wellness coach and president of Life Accelerated, Inc. She helps adults regain their energy, increase vitality and enjoy unparalleled levels of peak performance through her customized approach to wellness and well-being. 708-686-2132, [email protected] or www.LifeAccelerated.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 24, Number 6, December 2005/January 2006.