You’ve set your goals, you have chosen one or two manageable changes, and either you’re cracking along or – oh, hello self-sabotage again!
Those habits are so ingrained, aren’t they? They do not move themselves. Sometimes it takes a crowbar to get ourselves to change a daily habit, much less a behavior at work. Yet even minor habits and behaviors are the building blocks of behavior, pattern, personality quirks, or frustration we are desperate to change.
The prospect of change can feel overwhelming. If I change this, then THAT will change, and that would need adjustment, which means . . . It’s natural to feel resistance. You’ve been doing it another way for a long time, so give yourself some grace here. Then feel it – and then dive in.
One crucial point: Do not beat up on yourself.
Not helpful. Not productive. And, it’s another form of self-sabotage. Think about it – that downward spiral of cataloging past failures and imperfections not only leaves you feeling awful, but you look up, and a week has gone by.
Instead of struggling alone, embrace your support systems. If you could have done this on your own, you would have by now, right?
Find an accountability partner, a coach, an app, or join a supportive community. We were not made to be alone – why would there be a gazillion people on the planet if we were supposed to be alone and do it all by ourselves?
Remember: persistence doesn’t mean perfection. Setbacks and mistakes are part of the process. We learn and grow from them, and then we use them as stepping-stones toward our goals.
