Intro Knowing you have to make big changes can be so intimidating. It is natural to feel paralyzed by all that you need to decide and do in order to take back control of your health. In this episode I’m going to lay down doable first steps for you to take as you get started in your journey. ***Routine Toolkit*** Build good habits through routines *** Personal So, we are having our state testing week at school and it is just a lot. There is a lot to coordinate and get done all while staying positive and encouraging. I love our school. We’re a little rural public school, preschool through 12th grade all in the same building. Because of that, a week like this affects everyone and we are all working together to make sure the testing students can do their very best. It is beautiful to see everyone come together like this but I’m also coming home mentally and emotionally exhausted and I’m not the only one. By the end of the week everyone will be ready for a break. So, that’s just a little of what is going on in my world. I know many of my listeners are going through their own trials and challenges right now, too. That is just part of living. It’s also another situation where you might feel paralyzed by the idea of having to throw additional strain or stress into your life with healthy changes. Concept The other day I was talking to a woman who has to make some serious changes for medical reasons, and she was just paralyzed by the enormity of it all. She had a very long list of what she need to start doing and stop doing. It was like a total life-make over. And, this comes up so much for my coaching clients. They’ll get a medical diagnosis or have surgery or even just have this wake up call moment while trying to climb a flight of stairs where they are convinced that they need to do a massive overhaul of their life habits and it is overwhelming. So, what do you do? I wanted to break this down into a few simple concepts that will establish a foundation that you can really work from. First, make a plan. I like to get out a notebook and a calendar and work through the process. List the habits you would like to establish, set goals, analyze the resources you have to work with, enlist family and accountability partners for help, and have a workable plan for getting started. REMEMBER: Plans are meant to be adapted and changed as you go. For the women I work with, we usually start with creating a protocol for eating and self-care that we commit to for three weeks then reevaluate and tweak as needed. Concentrate on habits more than the end goal. Would you make monthly payments on a home that you have to give back after you are done paying for it? Would you be willing to make payments a little longer if that meant you get to keep your dream home when you are done? That is the difference between habit building and crazy crash diets. Crash diets are often very difficult, getting the weight off fast but with no intention of continuing to live that way once you reach your goal. Because of that, you usually don’t keep that weight loss, instead, you have to give back your success as you go right back to the way you were living before. That is why habit building is powerful: you establish habits you can do indefinitely and lose your weight slower but with the ability to keep living in that smaller body when you reach your goal. Start Small. Seriously. I know the list is long but if you try to change everything all at once you will crash and burn. I’m guessing your life already has a lot pressure and stress so it is unrealistic to expect to have the daily energy, time, and mental space to make many drastic changes. Once again, concentrate on establishing your habits because if you invest time and attention to this, it will be changes you get to keep. Also, starting small is kind and will take away some of the fear and intimidation that is paralyzing you from moving forward. Lastly, trust in God’s timing because not all bodies and lives are the same. I laugh at myself often because I’m very good at setting difficult goals and then being seriously upset at myself when I don’t reach time. It is downright ridiculous. Only God knows what each day will hold and only He crafted the masterpiece of our bodies. We can set a goal of losing weight at a certain pace, but if it takes longer, please don’t bail on your progress. Surrender to God’s timing, especially when you know you are doing the right things for your body. Spiritual Application 1 Corinthians 13:4 begins with “Love is patient. Love is kind.” Just last episode we talked about being kind to the precious body God gifted you with for your time here on Earth. So, be patient with your life and be kind to your body. It will help you both move forward and stay the course as you make these important changes. Practical Application Once again, if you are looking at making some big changes and need some help moving forward, I challenge you to make a plan, concentrate on habits, start small, and trust in God’s timing. Journal Prompt Here is a fun exercise. Imagine for a second that you are the woman who has made all the health changes you are challenged to embrace. How does she feel physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually? How does she show up around friends and family? What lessons do you think she will learn? Sign Off I am praying for your strength and God’s provision for you. We are God’s church and precious members of the body of Christ. Your quest for change is important and precious. All my love to you, sweet sister. I’ll talk to you next week.
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by Lora ArmendarizYou Can Do It!Do you want to fall out of love with a destructive habit? The first 42 episodes of this podcast are a resource for anyone who wants encouragement and information as they take a six week break from a habit in order to fall out of love with it. Archives
April 2024
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