Change Anything: Part One

As promised last week, I'll be spending the next few weeks teaching you in several installments how you can change ANYTHING in your life.

Once we understand the forces that are acting on us, we no longer have to fall victim to them. Those who remain blind and outnumbered have almost no chance of success. Whether it be improving your health, stabilizing your finances, building a better marriage, or whatever challenges you can imagine...you can use these techniques to create positive, long-term changes in any area of your life you wish.

So here we go.

Strategy #1: Love What You Hate

Stop obsessing over the unpleasant aspects of what you’re working to accomplish, and focus your attention on the values you’re supporting. For instance, when sticking to a lower calorie diet, don’t undermine your own motivation by describing your choices as “starving” or “going without.” Instead, you’re “sticking to your promise” or “becoming healthier.” This difference in description may sound small, but words matter. They focus the brain on either positive or negative aspects of what you’re doing.

Next, increase personal motivation by turning chores into a game.

Example: Take a picture of your goal (a person with your ideal physique, for instance) and cut into small pieces. Each day you finish your assigned task (20 minute workout, for instance), add one block of your mosaic back to the picture. By breaking the goal into small wins, you can set a time frame and develop a meaningful way of keeping score that turns something noxious into something that can be fun.

Set a deadline for the completion of your goal. If you don't hit...who cares!? In fact, many times you won't hit the goal by your deadline, but at least you've got something concrete that you're working toward. And when you hit a bite-sized goal, it feels great and propels onward to the next one!

I'll be back soon with strategy #2.

Get ready to Change Anything!

Dr. Cox