When you face challenges in adapting positive lifestyle changes, and wanting to just go back to the old familiar way of being, ask yourself – what is it costing you not to take action?
And you need to go deep, and think of not just the immediate consequences but keep asking “then what?” – until you get to the bottom of it and tap into the emotions that come with the outcome. Ask yourself “then what?” at least 5 times, see where it takes you.
For example, the immediate goal maybe to lose 10 pounds. Then what? I will be able to fit into those skinny jeans. Then what? I will feel good about myself. Then what? I will have the self-confidence to start dating again. In this example, the emotion that is tied to losing 10 pounds is regaining self-confidence.
Some people suggest that to reach any goal, we must have a strong motivation- a “Why that makes you cry.” The WHY is so deeply connected to your soul that you are compelled to succeed. For some people, the why of wellness may be because they want to live long to see their children grow up. For others, it may be that they want to function as optimally as they can following a debilitating medical issue or emotional trauma. For others, it may be that they want to feel the best they can feel after years of always feeling malaise- nothing to be diagnosed- just an overall feeling of “sick and tired.”
What can you do?
Pick one or two of your health and wellness goals, and ask yourself the bigger why. Write down your answers in a journal, dig deep until you find the emotional connected to the outcome, and keep your answers handy. This is what you go back to when you feel discouraged or fall off the wagon. What is your why that makes you cry?
