4 Steps to Creating Life Changing Habits
Life Changing Habits
Have you tried to create life changing habits and fallen back into the same routine?
Have you been stuck in the same place and are ready to make life changes that will move your life forward?
Are you ready to create life changing habits that stick?
Habits that help you form the life you desire and result in permanent change.
Now is your time to develop and implement new habits and make the life changes you desire. You may be thinking, ‘well, I have tried this time and time again; how will this be any different than before.’
Today, I will help you understand the importance of discipline in developing habits.
I will discuss a few steps that will help you put into practice changes you would like to make in your life. First, I will explain what a habit is and how it is formed. It will be important to explain how developing habits change your behavior and choices and how it also develops neurons in your brain.
Now it will be necessary to acknowledge your current struggle and the changes you would like to begin to make in your life. I will explain how change first starts with your thoughts. After explaining the science behind it (yes, I will keep it simple), you will learn to create a schedule to implement changes today.
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What Are Life Changing Habits
According to Merriam-Webster, habits are “acquired behavior modes that have become nearly or completely involuntary.” This tells us that it will not be involuntary when we are working towards developing habits, which means it will have to be worked on and worked towards daily. Creating habits will work for you and, at times, may even be a struggle. Don’t give up! Don’t give in! Remember, change takes time.
Understand that change may make you feel anxiously stressed and even depressed. You will be changing not only your behavior, but your brain will be building neurons and neural pathways around the changes you will be making. Because it is something new, your brain will work against you at first. Your brain will be trying to keep you safe, so it will tell you things to prevent you from changing. Your brain is doing what it is supposed to do. Remember, your new change is not familiar to your brain at first, and it would be best if you kept going.
Research suggests that between 60 to 90 days your brain will be familiar with your change, that change will become natural instead of forced.
Affirmations
- I am enough.
- I believe in myself.
- I deserve to be happy.
- I am ready for change.
- I completely trust myself.
- I am ready for any challenge.
- I have the courage to change.
- I accept my new experiences.
- I am worth making these changes for my life.
- I am becoming closer to my new self every day.
- I am aware of my mistakes, and I learn from them.
- My confidence grows when I step out of my comfort.
1. Your Thoughts
Change first starts in your thoughts.
The decision to work on your growth and make changes in your life will start with your thoughts. It will be vital that you work on what you tell yourself around changing and bettering yourself.
When your thoughts are life-giving and build you up, you will have the stamina to keep going. But if your thoughts are negative and draining the energy out of you, you will remain stuck.
Become aware of your thoughts as you work on your goals. Work on changing them if needed.
2. Your Struggles
I want you first to acknowledge what your current challenges are. What do you believe that you need to work on? What is most pressing on you?
For example, I am currently working on developing a habit of writing daily. I desire to become a great writer, but I know that it takes practice day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. By continuing to write, I become better at it, but I must write daily. Daily writing will eventually become a habit and be an involuntary part of my life. I am at the beginning stages of developing this habit, so now I schedule it and discipline myself to write every day.
What are the challenges that keep you stuck? Write down your challenges and create a strategy to overcome those challenges. Make a commitment to yourself to work through the challenges you will face.
3. Goals For Creating Life Changing Habits
What is the first habit you would like to develop? If you can not come up with anything at this time, try this exercise. List three goals for your: physical health, emotional health, personal development, career, spirituality, financial, and relationships. Pick one to start working on. It is important to start small so that you do not become overwhelmed and quit. I would like you to break each goal down into small, simple steps. You may need to take those small simple steps and create small simple baby turtle steps from them.
For example:
Goal: To read a book a month.
Step 1. Decide what book to read each month.
Step 2. Decide which days during the week you will read.
Step 3. Decide what time during the day you will set aside to read.
Step 4. Decide how much you will read per day.
Step 5. Schedule your reading time each day you decide to read.
Step 6. Implement your goal.
Because starting a life changing habit is difficult, you may need to schedule it in your planner.
DO NOT WAIT TO FEEL LIKE DOING IT; MOTIVATION MAY NOT COME!
DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO WORK ON YOUR GOAL, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT!
Working on your goal will have to be deliberate and intentional. Change does not come easy. Remember, you will be battling against yourself.
WIN THE BATTLE
4. Make Time
Plan times to work on your goal. For example, if your goal is to exercise, decide the best time to work out. Depending on your schedule, you may or may not be able to exercise simultaneously every day. But, place it into your schedule where you can. Now you may say, “I do not have any time on my schedule.”
Really take a look at your schedule and decide where to adjust your schedule to work on your goals and ultimately yourself. Yes, you may even have to prioritize your schedule and work on your goals first. Change is good and necessary, but it will take time.
Be gracious to yourself. Change will take time. Sometimes you will make a mistake. Please do not dwell on your mistakes; learn from them quickly and start again.
Conclusion
To recap, your habits will eventually become involuntary. Recognize that the battle you will face will begin in your brain and your thoughts. It is an internal battle, so push against those battles. Decide what your struggles are and what changes you would like to make. Break your goals into small, simple steps. Schedule in your planner the changes you would like to make.
Please leave a comment below and let me know your struggles with creating change in your life.