Change is
hard. Most people resist it at all costs. If you’ve ever tried to change a
habit, you’ve probably felt the gravitational pull of the resistance to that
change. Regardless of the source this resistance can be incredibly inconvenient
to our goals, and sometimes, painful to our lives.
When we lose momentum that we are harnessing for the change
and fall back into old habits it leaves an awareness in our mind where we know
that there is better, but we become frustrated that we are stuck with where we
are. Sound familiar? Yeah, me too. This brings about unhappiness, and over
time, a level of cynicism about trying new or different ways to change.
I got to thinking….Why do so many diet books and programs
fail?
.
Go to your local bookstore and pick up any diet book and
flip to the index. Now find the page where they mention how to manage diet
changes while trying to care for a sick child that doesn’t let you sleep. If
you couldn’t find that, find the page that details how to manage exercise
during times of extreme stress when you have work projects on a deadline.
Chances are, you weren’t able to find those pages. Strange, huh? I can’t
imagine why it would be hard to find a chapter like this. Your overall
lifestyle can make or break your efforts in the change you are trying to make.
On the other hand, if you take the changes are you trying to make into account
– diet, exercise, sleep, stress, etc – and put them back into the context of
your larger lifestyle, you have a far greater chance of success. Change without
context is not possible because the behaviors don’t exist without the context.
Imagine for a moment you are a movie star with a dedicated chef and nothing to
do but get in Hollywood shape for the next three months. How easy would it be
for you to eat nutritious and healthy meals three times per day?
Change takes work and an honest commitment. It will be
uncomfortable at times. It will be effortless at times. The more comfortable
you become with responsibility, the more joy you will receive from the process.
With this skill, when circumstances change – and they will
it is a guarantee of life – you will be able to adapt to any situation.
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