Invest in yourself, and change your life now. You are worth it.
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You want to improve your life, but you just don’t know where to start?
Does that sound familiar?
Everyone has a theory. Everyone has a book. Everyone has a website or blog. The Today Show said this. Good Morning America said another thing. Doctor Oz said that this will definitely work.
How in the hell do you separate the wheat from the chaff and figure out what to do?
First, Decide What You Want, And Go From There
As I say to pretty much all my new coaching clients, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
I also love to quote the movie “What About Bob?” and tell them that we’re going to be doing “baby steps” when it comes to anything new.
It could be getting your finances under control.
You might want to eat healthier.
Choose the number one thing that you want the most, will change your life the most and that you are willing to work the hardest toward.
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Your current job is less than satisfactory, and you want to find a new job.
You’re alone, and you want to dip your toe back into the world of dating.
And there’s the absolute number one request: You want to start exercising.
The key here is to decide what you want. Too many people want all of the above, but that can scare you and send you into overwhelm. That would be bad.
I recommend that you choose one thing, and one thing only.
Choose the number one thing that you want the most, will change your life the most and that you are willing to work the hardest toward.
Next, Choose A Plan And Stick With It
You have a target!
If you want a vacation, this is the equivalent of knowing that you want to go from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
Now you need to decide how to get there.
This is where you need to do some homework, or get some recommendations, maybe from a Coach, on what needs to happen next.
As I mentioned above, we’re inundated with information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it’s hard to tell who’s legit and who’s trying just to separate you from your money.
The secret here is to keep it simple.
If an eating plan requires tons of supplements and gadgets, it’s too complicated. Find something simpler.
If an exercise plan requires expensive equipment, a long journey to the gym each morning and new workout clothes, it’s too complicated. Find something simpler.
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If an exercise plan requires expensive equipment, a long journey to the gym each morning and new workout clothes, it’s too complicated. Find something simpler.
If getting back out into the dating world involves finding a partner that is perfect in each and every way and must fill a dozen boxes on your perfect partner checklist, you’re not ready. Take a deep breath and find something simpler.
If you’re going from Los Angeles to Honolulu, you wouldn’t take off in an airliner, then try to switch to a cruise ship halfway through the journey. Keep it simple. Choose between plane or ship. Done.
To avoid overwhelm and anxiety, you must keep your self-improvement plan simple and easy to follow.
Finally, Give It A Chance and Get Yourself Some Support
Now that you have a target (Honolulu) and you know how you are going to get there (airliner) now is the time to take off and begin your journey.
We all know that it takes about 6 hours to fly from LA to Hawaii.
There are no shortcuts here. It’s going to take 6 hours and there’s nothing you can do, barring discovering a wormhole or defying the laws of airliner construction and physics that will get you there earlier.
When it comes to any type of new habit, I tell my clients to give it at least 90 days.
It’s been proven that the whole “21 days to make a new habit” is incorrect and only sets you up for failure and despair and a new batch of self-hating.
It may take more or less than 90 days, but you need to get your brain and body used to the new habit and also accepting of the fact that it’s going to take more than a couple of weeks to get it set.
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My new saying, and the one you should take to heart is “90 days makes a habit, 90 days breaks a habit”.
It may take more or less than 90 days, but you need to get your brain and body used to the new habit and also accepting of the fact that it’s going to take more than a couple of weeks to get it set.
90 days is a long journey, I recommend that you get someone to keep you company.
This could be a coach, this could be a family member or a friend, this could be a community on a website. The important thing is that you have someone to go to when you need help. You should not go on this journey alone.
They will encourage you when you need it.
They will congratulate you when you have earned it.
They will kick you in the butt when you’ve stopped moving forward and are being lazy.
By settling in for the long run and finding those who will support you, you set yourself up for success from Day One.
The Best Time To Start Was Yesterday. The Next Best Time Is Today
Now is the time and today is the day.
You know that you deserve better, and you know that you are capable of better.
All that is left is for you to make the decision to start.
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Originally published at Williamize. Reprinted with permission.
Photo: StartupStock/Pixabay