Creating Change
Often getting on a path to whole wellness means making changes in one’s life. That can seem scary and daunting. There are many tricks and tools to start this process. Here are nine of them I have found very useful in my journey.
Stop finding reasons not to create positive change in your life. Work, social media, television, and everyday distractions can create roadblocks to change.
Establish goals. If necessary, start broadly and then get more specific. It can be as simple as, “I am going to make my whole wellness a priority”. From there, make sub goals to support the larger one like “I am going to exercise more.” Then you can break down even further to something like “I am going to go for a thirty minute walk three times a week.”
Create a routine. Evidence suggests that if you can create and follow a routine for two weeks, it becomes a habit. Try scheduling self care and wellness activities into your daily routine, and eventually they will become part of who you are.
Hold yourself accountable. Surround yourself with others that will help you with that, but remember, you alone are responsible for your well being.
Meditate on your change. Change is as much mental and spiritual as it is the physical act of doing. For me, I have found that reflecting on one daily change mantra in the morning can be helpful.
Track and acknowledge your progress. Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize the fruits of our efforts. Frequently take stock and reflect on what you’ve been able to accomplish. This can be done mentally or through journaling.
Recognize that failure and setbacks are a natural part of change and progress. Be kind to yourself and learn from the whole process.
Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s okay to find inspiration in others, but be careful about unrealistic expectations or unfair comparisons. There is no ideal. Only strive to try to be your best self. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “comparison is the thief of joy.”
Never stop your efforts and evolve. Remember that whole wellness is not a destination, it’s a journey. As you grow, change, age, etc., your journey is likely to evolve as well. Be open and adaptive to that.
Have fun! Choose activities that you enjoy the most and relish those endorphins and all the other health benefits that will follow.