Changing Habits

Sometimes we make changes to our habits because we have to: we are faced with something so big that it’s obvious that we cannot continue to do things the way we’ve always done them. I’ve seen people make huge changes when faced with a serious diagnosis, an impending new addition to the family, or a change in employment.

Other times, we get the idea to make changes all on our own. We may decide to be healthier by eating better or exercising. We start a meditation practice or begin consciously using more positive thinking. We begin to see or feel a difference and gain some momentum with the new way of doing things.

And then, life turns up the heat. Stress escalates, as it sometimes does, and our default is to go back to our old programming – what we “know,” what feels comfortable. We eat the junk food or “comfort food” that we believe we deserve. We scrap the exercise or meditation because we are overwhelmed with the stress at hand.

It’s ironic that it is exactly these times of great stress when we need those healthy behaviors most of all.

Take, for example, the adage that we should drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. It feels good to be well hydrated. Our bodies and brains work better. Drinking adequate amounts of water helps with satiety, keeps our kidneys happy and helps flush out all sorts of things from our system. If you get a viral infection, like the common cold, what’s the number one advice? “Drink plenty of liquids.” Even though I KNOW that’s the advice, I always appreciate the reminder because I’m so focused on my stuffy nose or headache that I forget to do the basics.

This year, I had some massive stress, like a tsunami ran through my life. For a short while, I considered going back to my old ways. Fortunately, I listened to my body, which was all kinds of tense and anxious when considering that. I also had my amazing support team to help me keep focused on what’s best for me.

What serves us better is to keep on with our new, improved behaviors, even if they feel uncomfortable or if you doubt they will work or make a difference. Even if you doubt it – you KNOW the old ways don’t work. You’ve already proved that to yourself. Stick with the new ways, and give them a chance to create something new in your life. (I’m here to tell you…it’s working for me!)