Most people don’t even bother changing habits that they know are slowing killing them like food choices, smoking or moving their body as little as possible because they don’t know where to start.
They have a mindset that it will be the most difficult thing ever to change.
They think that people who have successfully changed did so because they are good at depriving themselves and have willpower & self-control.
They are disgusted with their own lack of willpower and beat themselves up over it.
Which triggers an emotional response, which their brain now associates with that thing they so desperately want to give up. Without even thinking about it, they feel a drive so deep and powerful to go eat or smoke that thing to cope with that terrible emotion.
Even if they do muster up the willpower and make a change, they feel deprived. A smoker who doesn’t allow themselves to smoke. A junk food junkie who doesn’t allow themselves to down that doughnut.
People who easily & happily change their habits without looking back do so because they change their mindset first.
All change starts from awareness.
People who easily and happily change their life for the healthier spend a lot of time taking stock and responsibility of their current habits.
Sometimes days, sometimes weeks and sometimes year.
So the person who seemingly woke up one day and changed their habits for the better, didn’t actually do that. They spent time changing their mindset first.
The first step to a meaningful mindset change is awareness. One of my tobacco cessation clients said to me “Grace, I’m sticking something in my mouth and lighting it on fire. This is insane.” Instead of focusing on trying not to smoke a cigarette, she focused on adding consciousness into her smoking and would realistically think about what she was doing every time she did decide to light up.
When I changed my diet from mostly highly processed foods to mostly real foods, I was realistic about what I was doing. I was exchanging what little money I had for “foods” that did not provide enough nutrients for my son to grow and develop properly.
I was depriving him (and myself for that matter) of desperately needed nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates and proteins and overwhelming his system with highly processed food ingredients that eventually became stored in his cells, inevitably disrupting cellular function.
I was honest about what I was doing and took responsibility for it, just like my client who was a former smoker for more than 40 years of her life.
When we fully and truly aware of our habits and the negative affect they have on our health, when we take responsibility and are realistic about how we are slowly killing ourselves with each cigarette or honeybun, it becomes very easy in the future to make a choice to discontinue that habit.
When it becomes your choice, you gain total control over your habit. At that point, it can be easily and happily changed.
When habit change is viewed as deprivation or takes willpower to accomplish, the results are rarely long term and do not evoke happiness.
Is there a habit you want to change in your life? Start by thinking about what you are doing each and every time you do it. Don’t focus on discontinuing the habit. Put consciousness and awareness into the habit and be realistic about what it’s really doing to your body and health.
[optinform]What does it mean to have a mindset?
Mindset is an attitude, disposition, or mood; an intention or inclination. It’s how you view a task, event or even life.
Mindset can make or break progress and lasting success.
If you think you can’t, then you won’t. If you think you can, well then you will!
How can I improve my mindset?
Education, responsibility and practice.
First, in order to change mindset one has to learn what truly is, not necessarily what one has been taught or accepts as what is.
Next, one must take responsibility for their own actions. Being aware of and owning the effects of habits or actions is of utmost importance.
Lastly, practice. When we take on a new point of view, the old one will continue to creep up in our thoughts. Accept that this will happen and when you become aware of it happening, change your thoughts to your new mindset. After a few days, you’ll be a pro.
Can mindset be changed?
Absolutely. Nelson Mandel once said he hated white people and was very angry. That is a stark contrast to the loving, forgiving and accepting man I know of.
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