Mental Health
have those assets to spare , if you haven ’ t developed them yet , that does NOT mean that you ’ ve failed . It means you need to change your sense of homeostasis to accommodate them .
That means that we have to stop thinking in terms of “ I Want ” and start thinking in terms of “ I Am Going To .”
The least that we can do , if we ’ re changing ourselves , is to be assertive . We ’ re in control of this change , after all , so let ’ s use that by setting goals and setting them realistically .
If a goal that pops in mind , using the same examples , is along the lines of , “ I am going to lose 50 pounds ,” slow down there , Buckaroo , Stop that . That ’ s a goal you won ’ t reach . It ’ s too far in the future , it ’ s too much of an “ End State .” If you lose 40 pounds , you ’ re still lagging behind . Instead , set a goal that you can do RIGHT NOW . Goals like , “ I am going to take a walk ” or “ I ’ m going to eat more vegetables and less butter ,” you can do that during lunch . Do it every day , and it becomes a little ritual . It becomes a pattern of behavior . It becomes the new normal , a new homeostasis . We ’ re not looking for goals that we can reach , we ’ re looking for goals that we can DO . it to reach our realistic goals . We want to give ourselves rewards along the way , instead of at the end , and affirmation is the first reward . Give yourself a pat on the back when you do a goal or do it a little longer than you did yesterday .
Don ’ t be afraid to get a little smug :) You did more than most people do with resolutions , look at you ! Keep track of your progress , start a diary or spreadsheet , and update it so you can look back and brag later . That means you have to measure that progress in ways that are useful , but those should be small , too . More steps than yesterday , more rallies than last month , more broccoli .
And if that progress starts to backslide , don ’ t freak out . Since we ’ re taking the tiny steps , we
If we ’ re going to DO , then we ’ re going to DO IT AS HARD AS WE CAN , right ? The folks that get fit are the ones that hit the gym on day one and keep hitting it 7 days a week , right ? NOPE . Go slooooow . You want to exert yourself , not hurt yourself .
Your mind needs time to adjust to the new normal , and we ’ re going to keep encouraging
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