Important! Change is a process NOT an event...

Here we are, January 1, 2012.  So, what changes/goals are you moving towards this year?

In your journey towards your goals, it is really important to remember that it is just that, "a journey".  A series of actions in which we take some steps forward and some steps backwards.  Some of the greatest joy I've ever experienced came to me during the journey towards a goal, rather than actually reaching it - but reaching the destination provides plenty of joy, too!! 

This can be a difficult to embrace because we live in such an instant gratification culture.  God forbid we have to actually wait more than seconds or minutes for something.  Have you ever experienced this while texting someone?  I have!  You know, that feeling like it is taking someone forever to respond to one of your messages when in reality, it's maybe been 10 minutes... or less.  We have so much at our available to us at the push of a button which makes waiting so challenging.

What one thing can you do today make it happen?   The most important thing I've learned to make changes in my life is to think big but act small.  What does this mean?  Always, always, always envision yourself reaching the goal and what that looks and feels like, but savor the experiences in reaching your destination, both the good and the bad.   The good fuels our fire to keep going, and the bad can be great learning experience if you choose to view it as that rather than letting it rattle your world - easier said than done at times, though.

Whatever general idea you have in your head of how long it will take you to reach a goal, I encourage you to double that amount of time. This may feel discouraging, but I promise you that in doing this, you are setting yourself up for success! Why? Because if you are able to reach the goal sooner, you will feel doubly proud of yourself, if it takes the exact amount of time, then you are also successful. What if it takes longer? Be kind to yourself and embrace it trusting that the universe brought that goal to you in the time that was right for you! Don't question it, don't judge it, just embrace it!

I frequently hear people talk about wanting to lose weight/get fit. Often, someone who has been totally sedentary for months or even years resolves to go to the gym every day or 3-4 times per week. Um, if you've been sedentary for a long time, you are already settting yourself up for failure. How about something like this.... adding 15-30 minutes of exercise 1-2 times per week. Whew, doesn't that feel more doable? Less anxiety provoking? After all, even 15 minutes of activity 1-2 times per week is way more than you were doing if you were sedentary!! Works the same for changing your diet. If you add one healthy food choice per day (or every couple of days) or eliminate/reduce an unhealthy food choice, that's works, too!! Hence my advice to double your goal time.

You will not always be successful in reaching your goals.  That's ok, too!  Sometimes we need to fall short in order to re-evaluate the goal and perhaps change it or get rid of it all together.  I will use losing weight as an example.  Many people struggle with reaching that goal because they see it as an event, not a process and the goal usually gets set waaaaaaay too high.  But it feels much different if you think of it as a lifestyle change, improving your diet, adding some physical activity, and caring for your body and maybe not having a numerical goal for your weight but just improving your overall health habits. For me, whenever I've looked at health/fitness in this way, I have had far more success.

Above all, be kind to yourself on your journey!! 

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” ~Don Williams, Jr

Stay positive!!

Sue