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So it’s a new year. I believe this year is different. It is different for so many reasons: we are different; our world is different; our expectations are different. Why do I say all of that? Because it’s true.
We have had an exceptionally challenging few years. COVID, politics, personal changes, we are older and beginning to realize it. Many of us have geographical changes – whether to a new city or a new home in the same city. Our world has been very aggressive economically and politically. Did you realize that our world is upwards of $11,000 more expensive this year alone? Inflation, cost of living, cost of wages – everything has gone up. For some that’s not such a big deal because our wages or product sales are also up. Regardless we feel it and see it. Then there is the fact that we are a few years older and beginning to realize it in our own lives. We can’t put out at the levels we once did. Lifting objects is more challenging and just going for a regular checkup involves questions like “Are you having challenges with daily living activities?” This really happened - not yet thank you! Yuck.
Why is this year different? Because we actually have the power, desire and hope to do something different to achieve results that are important to us.
You want to lose that belly roll, visceral fat, muffin top, battle of the bulge – whatever you want to call it. You must do something different. It could be as simple as reducing your daily soda to once a week. Or walking 10,000 steps a day. But if you are already doing that then it must be something different that you need to do. Perhaps it’s a better choice of the fats you eat? More plant fat and better quality fat? Or maybe instead of running you need to do more interval workouts that include high intensity for short bouts to increase your fat burning? Or maybe build more muscle that will enable you to burn more calories throughout the day. Start with an assessment with a qualified professional to determine which is going to be best for you. If you are already working with a professional maybe you need to follow their guidelines better to make the whole program work for you.
Some people do not want to address their diet. It is a “no-no” topic for so many reasons. “I have issues and do not want to revisit discussing a diet digging up old feelings of insecurity”. So let’s look at it differently this time without the old captions attached. Or maybe it’s “I work really hard and want what I want”. Ok. So let’s not talk about it. But do you want change? Are you ready for change in your life?
Others are challenged with managing their time better so they can do what is important to them. Another challenging topic – discipline. Many tell me “I am disciplined – I handle all of my responsibilities and then some”. Ok so why don’t you have time to do what YOU want? What you want = what's important to you. You want a few minutes extra to meditate to start your day off right? Get up 10 minutes earlier and discipline yourself to do that meditation.
Why is it so hard for us to do something different? Change is difficult. Habits come easy even to the point of doing them without having to think about it. But if we want change we must do something different.
I woke up today and said I am ready to make a change then proceeded to do the same thing I always do. Where is the change? I said out loud “If I want change I must do something different”.
Ok. So now what. I started to do a few things differently. It is Saturday and I have no work today so in reality I can do anything I want. Sit at the computer, write, review notes. But I really need to get better organized for the New Year so I started cleaning out a few shelves. I started filing those piles of paper that have been sitting there. I pulled out some recipes for morning drinks to get my greens in and clean my system from all of the holiday foods. I did something different.
What about you? What do you need to do different to get the change that is important to you? Write down what change you want. Then write next to it baby steps to make it happen. Then make yourself do it. If a few days pass and you haven’t done it you need help. If you don’t want help you don’t want change. It is your choice and your life. You want change? You must do something different!
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