The 4 keys to meaningful change
The four areas you need to think about when considering change are Learning, Action, Habits, and Health. Together they form a powerful system of change that can transform how you feel and act.
learning
Learning can be interesting and exciting, but also a disorganized and disagreeable process. It repeatedly puts us in the role of novice. To learn effectively is to loosen our grip on Ego and accept that there are some things we are not good at, but that with an open mind and practice we can gain new skills. These skills then boost our esteem and confidence, empowering us to take effective action.
action
Action is simply small adaptations being implemented in your daily routines. This leads to an accretion of skill and change that is manageable and drives up performance and well-being. Dramatic change does not always need dramatic action. The right changes can be small yet effective if practiced consistently. Small change is also much easier to sustain and the degree of change can be increased incrementally over time.
habits
Daily habits are effortless, automatic and are not perceived as draining our time and energy. Brushing your teeth or having a shower is routine, yet provides a wealth of benefits we take for granted. You are shaped by your habits, not occasional action.
Changing our habits is one of the most challenging things we can do. Many find it easier to hike up a mountain than to cut out sugar. This is because habits are a form of conditioning and often strongly linked to context. For example, people who worry tend to do so after experiencing some 'cue' such as time of day, location, a person or physical action/sensation.
The first step to modifying the habit is to ascertain what the triggering cue may be. This requires a detailed analysis of the circumstances that occur just before you do it. Close observation itself can increase control of the habit and provides the information necessary to interrupt the process. Once identified, altering or removing a cue will reduce the likelihood of the habit being triggered. Further, the unhelpful response needs to be replaced with a more helpful one, effectively learning a new more adaptive habit. This demands focused attention, intention and repetition. Yet, it actually doesn't take long for the biological and neurological changes to happen. Usually a few weeks of consistent practice is more than enough.
Health
When we talk about health, what we really mean is accessing more energy. Reducing negative symptoms such as physical and psychological pain, stress and nutritional imbalance allows us to develop better habits in areas such as sleep, relaxation, exercise and eating. Health and well-being go hand in hand. Being physically fit is a great start, but is sometimes not enough; the same self-care is needed psychologically and emotionally to bring about well-being.
My coaching and therapy is tailored to each client to maximise their change potential. My techniques are clear, simple and scientifically based.
If you would like to get in touch and discover the specific approach I would recommend for you, then contact me today and we can have a chat.