Why is that when people decide they need to make some changes in their lives they feel they have to make them all in one go?
Big changes always seem daunting. It is like climbing the proverbial mountain and frequently as a result of feeling that way then they fail to take the first step on the journey to change.
Is that how you feel about changing habits? You identified a number of areas in your life where you feel your habits are holding back and you have decided you need to stop or modify an existing habit or maybe you want to start a completely new habit.
Then ask yourself this – to make a difference in your life do you have to change them all in one go?
The answer is no you don’t. In fact I need to put it more definite than that. If you try to make too many habit changes too quickly you will – I’m sorry to tell you – most probably fail to make any changes and if you do start them you will most likely give up on all of them very quickly.
The all or nothing approach to habit change is what I liken to climbing the mountain. You’re standing in the foothills and the goal is to reach the summit. But you’ve never climbed a mountain before and it looks so daunting you decide to put it off for another day.
So continuing with my analogy let’s imagine that rather than a mountain in front of you there is now a gentle slope. It seems manageable – and it is. That is where you are going to practice and as time progresses you prove to yourself that you can climb steeper slopes because you have proved to yourself you can do it. You belief system says you can do it.
That is exactly how habit change works. Start with one habit. A small habit change. And you will find that what you achieve by that change will reinforce your belief in your ability to move on to the next and the next. But most important never lose sight of the fact that small changes ultimately add up to big results.
Be patient and be successful.
“Your Habits Control Your Life – But You Control Your Habits
You Can Take Back Control of Your Life”
Filed under: Habits
