It's a new year and I want to change, but....

I feel stuck! More often than not, we are overwhelmed by all the changes that we would like to make but we don't know how to get started. There just seems to be too many, and there probably are too many ideas of how you would like your life to be different. Being motivated to tackle several things takes a lot of determination and we have to remind ourselves that our determination "muscle" so to speak is already used up a lot during the day so we may only have so much left. One example of this that I can give you is just the pure determination not to lay on your horn for five straight minutes because the driver next to you decides to act like he is in a high-speed chase and decides to cut you off! Breathe my friend.

Another reason we struggle to implement change is because what we already do feels comfortable and who really wants to be uncomfortable? But I am a believer that we can make slight changes that lead to bigger ones that does not rock the boat quite so much. For example, let's say that you want to add in more veggies throughout that week, especially broccoli, but your favorite veggie is actually carrots. One option I will give to you is to simply add carrots to the meals that you do not currently have veggies. You are adding in the behavior of adding veggies, but you simply have not yet switched to broccoli. In the meantime, I would experiment with different seasonings, etc. in order to make broccoli more appealing to you. Also, you may eventually get tired of eating carrots and will be more willing to switch it up. No matter how you go about it, you would still end up with more veggies in your diet.

The third perspective on why change can be challenging is that we need outside assistance in order to effectively execute the change. For example, you love to walk and do so regularly, but you want to add strength training to your week. If you do not like strength training and you often feel like you are not executing appropriately, it would be a great idea to work with a personal trainer. Sometimes, this is only briefly needed to get the basics and then you can move on to so many resources available to help you have a well-rounded and consistent strength training plan.

Whatever the challenge may

be in creating change, there is always a way to get started!! Remember, you do not need to be perfect to get going, you just need to take action! Involving friends or loved ones is also a great way to get support and stay accountable. And whether you actively work with me or not, I am always here to help. Everyone deserves to feel their best :)