Why Changing Habits Requires a Shift in Mindset

Have you ever started a new habit, or made a big change to your eating and exercise routines, only to quit a or few days or a week into it??

You really WANT the end result, you know that changing your habits will give you that end result, BUT making those changes EVERY day just feels so overwhelming or exhausating...

I think we that we sometimes forget that:

Old habits take time to shift, and new habits time to form. 

Nothing happens immediately. Our habit self is formed through repeated past experiences. Continual repetition of the same experience over and over again biologically imprints the habit into our brain and our nervous system.

There is a learning process for forming each new habit. We have to RETRAIN our mind AND our body. And it's likely that we may not get it right first time! As we've been operating on this same cycle or habit pattern for a very long time.

Where I see the biggest mindset shifts need to happen for life changing success:

1) Reframing thoughts of failure to compassion

If/when you fall off the wagon it's so easy to notch it up as a "failure". Giving the green light to quit and allowing all the negative thoughts in "you can't do this, it's too hard, why try?".

But instead...

Why not treat yourself with compassion? Accept that everyone slips up, and use it as an opportunity to learn from it. 

Asking: What is working here and what isn't?
 
* Did you make the changes and process fun? Or did you dread it?
* Did you look at the change as a great opportunity? Or as a punishment?
* How could you make this process easier and more enjoyable?

2) Small steps, give us big results long term

What can you do to make the changes less "overwhelming"? Did you take on TOO MUCH change at once and exhaust yourself?

Instead of trying to make a number of BIG changes all at once, is there a baby step you can start with?

Start small! Break it down, and build your habits in blocks.

What is one step you can take this week? Focus on that ONE THING for the next 3-4 weeks until you get really good at it.

Then, you add another step for the following 3-4 weeks. 

If your habits don't line up with your dream, you need to either change your habits OR change your dream. - John Maxwell 

The truth is, habit change ultimately feels hard because it requires us to break free from our automatic behaviors and deeply ingrained patterns. Our brains are wired to seek out familiarity and routine, making it difficult to create new habits and replace old ones.

However, if we can approach the habit change with more self-compassion and make it esier with smaller more achieveable steps it is possible to create lasting change! By doing so, we can break free  from old patterns and live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

If you have any questions or comments about this topic please reach out!
[email protected]

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​About the Author: Janel Briggs is a NLP and Timeline Therapy Practitioner on a mission to support women across Australia and Singapore in healing their professional anxieties, insecurities and imposter syndrome to build unwavering confidence and self-belief. The goal is to level up your life and career by learning how to to live fearless and anxiety free! Connect with Janel on social media via Linkedin or Instagram.

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