Lifestyle Change

Ok, we have heard the phrase “Lifestyle Change” so much so, it has become a cliché. It is a phrase we have attached to everything that involves doing something different. Intellectually we understand what  “lifestyle change” or “to change,” means, but to actually know what it truly means emotionally and physically is a totally different matter all together.  We need to examine our thoughts, our attitude, how we feel.  Are we discipline minded, focused on reaching certain goals?

These changes need to take place in our thought processes when we think about lifestyle changing. But do we fully understand that?  Until now, we have lived and developed the thinking, feeling habits that created who we are, and how we have been living our lives and its consequences, good or bad.  We have behaved our way into bad habits and we have to behave our way out of bad habits. What we call “Bad Habits” is a pattern of behavior detrimental to our physical or mental health, which is often linked to a lack of self-control. For example: alcohol or drug abuse, consumption of tobacco in any form, overeating, regular junk food consumption, late-night partying and compulsive activities including gambling, shopping, sexual addiction, and others…

Lets first break down the meaning of  “lifestyle-change”.  

Lifestyle: A way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group.
To change: To cause to be different, to give a completely different form or appearance, to transform:

Everyone has bad habits that they want to get rid of. They may try to overcome a bad habit and lose out to the habit.

Habits first begin as a single-thought, then they become a multitude of thoughts, which evolve into actions, then habits; our habits make up our character, and our character dictates our life.  But it all starts with a single-thought, Your ability to stop that initial negative thought from becoming a multitude of negative thoughts will determine your success in breaking or preventing any negative habit. 

Every time you re-perform an activity it gets easier and easier to perform.  The opposite of this is also true, whenever you refrain from an activity it becomes increasingly more difficult to perform, until you have virtually no desire to perform the activity.

Modifying or eliminating long-held habits and maintaining the new habits sometimes feels impossible.  I’m here to tell you, nothing we put our heart and mind to, is impossible!!

The following steps will provide a starting plan for overcoming bad habits.

Steps to Breaking Bad Habits:

1. Change your environment. Certain environments are breeding grounds for certain behaviors.  You must consciously change your environment, and document a written plan to ensure your changes are permanent.  If you’re addicted to food, you may need to get all of the junk food out of your house and create a plan to never purchase it again.  If you’re in a bad relationship, you may want to create an environment that doesn’t include the other person.
2. Cancel out the initial negative thought. As soon as a negative thought comes to you, you should say, “Cancel, Cancel” and proceed to think of something positive.  Never think about the negative habit again.
3. Surround yourself with friends who are already what you want to become. Limit your time with people who aren’t what you want to become (e.g. If you want to quit smoking, you can’t hang around smokers all day).  Some habits may require you to change what movies and television shows you watch.
4. Schedule a day to jumpstart your new program. Start this day by spending a few moments meditating and seeing yourself free from the habit.  Make an affirmation stating your new intentions; this will help to put you in the right frame of mind for this new life you will be living.  During this time you must make the decision to change. Hold fast to that decision.
5. Create a positive habit to replace the negative habit.

Now, are you ready to make a LIFE STYLE CHANGE?