Ahhhh the silly season is just about over and a new year is ahead, my new motto is “I will win in 2010″, win what you say? Win over bad habits, create new (good) habits, set new goals towards optimum health. Research has proven that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Habits are an essential part of our life, without them we would fail in most things we try to accomplish. As Dr. Andrew Weil says, anything you do with repetition and emotion will become your reality. If you’re not satisfied with your current experience, examine your habits.
Athletes know all too well how important it is to stick to habits, especially in training. But most people struggle with their day to day practice of habits and if you are one of them fear no more. You too can change your bad habits into a good one, just take 21 days and you will be well on your way to become a changed person.
The 21 day habit practice
(I didn’t write it but it is a good guide to follow)
- First of all, you will need to be clear on your intentions. Do you really want to play the violin? or was this wish merely conceived when your best friend showed you their instrument.
- Once you are absolute certain you want to follow through with this, here is what you do. First write down your intentions. It is important you use positive affirmations to write these goals.
- It helps if you can identify your why. Why do you want to play the violin, lose weight, run a marathon, etc. The bigger your conviction, the easier it will be be for you to make the transition.
- Create diversions to help you stay on track. If there is a specific weakness you battle that stops you from progressing and practicing every day, try to find ways to distract you from the negativity. It will help to keep you on track. Total honesty with yourself goes a long way here.
- Celebrate each step, regardless how tiny it is. You need all the help you can get to keep motivated. It also helps to enlist the support of friends or family members. People who can motivate you to keep on going.
- Stay clear of negative people. There will be those who try to sabotage you. This doesn’t even have to be intentional. It could evolve from a negative statement aimed at you, or even a deep rooted belief you had since you can remember. Any trigger that could bring this out should be avoided.
Above all be “thankful” to yourself each day that you made it another day! Positive affirmation is essential to your motivation………..
Q
Q this is an awesome way to start the new year. I gave up New Years resolutions years ago because I failed so so so very much. It became safer to just not make them. But as I have gotten older and realised what an asset good health is and how keeping it needs to be a priority in my life I have had to try and rebuild habits. You are doing a good thing encouraging us, the self talk we have inside ourselves in un gaurded moments sometimes is so failure driven and negative. I like your point on staying clear of negative people, we can do that fairly well ourselves, the being negative bit. I was once told that the subconscious mind only believes what our conscious mind tells it. I found myself having to watch what I said and thought about myself.
Your article encourages me to get back onto the track and back the gym and training after the Christmas season excesses.They don't have to keep me from taking up the work of good health again. So watch this space, tomorrow it's off to the gym, onto my bike and you know what, I started today walking the dog up to the bridge. I too am going to win in 2010, I started winning in 2009 and that will continue………
See you there………..I value what you have written here.