December is such a busy month. Mall parking lots are crazy and the lines
inside the stores are lengthy. Regardless,
I love the hustle and bustle that surrounds Christmas. But before you know it, a new year will be upon
us and many will be contemplating their New Year’s Resolution.
A few days ago I was reading an editorial piece by Ashely
Gartland entitled Bye-Bye Bad Habits.
I was struck by the similarity between her message, my message to many, and the
fact that many a message bears repeating. It won’t sink in until just the right
moment, and that moment is different for everyone. Breaking bad habits is
the same as changing bad habits and that’s what any kind of long term, sustainable
change is about.
I’ll recall here the subheading used in Ashley’s article,
and compare them to what I often hear myself saying to clients:
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Ashley’s
Words
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Chris’s
Words
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Acknowledge your habit
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What isn’t working for you?
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Look to the future
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Let’s set a goal for this space.
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Change your environment
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If this space holds too many distractions for you, let’s take a
boxful of items into a more inviting room and sort through them there.
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Substitute a better behaviour
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Don’t do everything at once. Pick one thing you will do differently,
and do it every time. For example, don’t leave your dishes in the sink, put them
in the dishwasher, or wash after each meal.
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Hold yourself accountable
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Ask someone to be nearby, to keep you on task and help you to stay
motivated.
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Count on failure
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It’s normal for people to backslide when they are working towards long
term goals. Think of that nasty, four-letter word, diet. A little setback doesn’t negate all that you’ve
accomplished. Keep your eye on the prize.
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So, if you’ve struggled to make
positive changes, and are left feeling defeated, don’t give up. You can still create
the space, person, home – whatever you want – when you hear the message that
resonates with you.
Until that time, shut out all the
noise and enjoy this magical time of year. Merry Christmas!!!
