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Experiment
It's January!
Have you already whispered quietly to yourself, "This year will be
different; I will keep my New Year's Resolutions and achieve my goals?"
Before you answer…let me share something interesting with you.
Doug Vermeeren (www.douglasvermeeren.com)
writes about resolutions. He teaches us that, "The Traditional
goal-setting formula most people follow was developed in the early 1900s
in manufacturing to enable company executives to monitor the number of
units coming out of a factory by a certain date. It's a great measuring
stick if you're manufacturing products, but if you are trying to improve
yourself or achieve something non-tangible, it's a woefully ineffective
and out-of-date process. For example, if your goal is to have a better
relationship with your spouse, the traditional goal-setting formula
simply won't work."
After reading this article, it's no wonder so many of us become
discouraged when our plans to change a behavior(s) does not work out.
What can we do differently?
For starters, we can accept the truth that changing a habit takes
practice.
Here are some of my secrets for changing a tough habit:
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Focus on the new habit one
day at a time. Example: Only for today you will eat a healthy
breakfast. If you go back to your old habit of just grabbing a
cup of coffee, Stop! Acknowledge what you have done and prepare
a bowl of cereal for yourself.
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Seek support from a friend,
family member or a professional. Together you can accomplish
more with a team effort than alone. Celebrate after you have
taken that small step.
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Be kind to yourself if you
slip. As my mother used to say, "Rome was not built in a day."
It takes time to change our habits.
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Practice, practice and
practice some more.
In a nut shell: Be kind to
yourself. Acknowledge your small steps of accomplishment.
Action Step: Now it's your
turn!
What habits have you changed in
the past? Do you have a tip that works well for you? Share it with
everyone in the Love Yourself - It Matters! Community by emailing
me at
helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net or leaving a comment on my blog
at
www.theloveyourselfcoach.blogspot.com.
If you are struggling with food
and have questions please send me an email at
helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net or leave a comment on the
Love Yourself - IT MATTERS! Blog and I will address
them in my next article.
Helen
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