Making Change Easy

"If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living." ~ Gail Sheehy

​The beginning of the year is a great time to start afresh and make the changes we know would be good for us. Many of us start the year strong, feeling excited and ready for the possibilities these changes will bring. And yet, statistically, only about 9-12% of people successfully achieve their New Year’s resolutions by the end of the year!
 
So why is that? And most importantly, what can we do about it so that we are actually in the 9-12%?
 
Here are some powerful yet simple tips to help you make change easier and more sustainable this year:
 
Tip #1: Start Small and Build Momentum
Making big changes can often feel overwhelming, and when we get stressed, we revert to what’s comfortable, that is, what’s familiar (our old habits and behaviors). Starting with a small shift in our thinking, focus, language, or habits can help us build momentum and lead to a significant transformation.
 
Action Step: Identify one small action you can take today - or better yet right now - that aligns with your goal. For example, if you want to start meditating, try just 1-2 minutes a day. If you want to practice self-compassion, think about what you can say to yourself when you’re being hard on yourself. If you want to be more disciplined, notice how you tend to sabotage yourself and use every opportunity to break that pattern.
 
Tip #2: Celebrate Resistance
Resistance to change is normal - it’s your brain’s way of protecting you from the unknown. Instead of seeing resistance as a reason to stop, view it as a positive sign that you’re stepping outside your comfort zone, which is where growth happens.
 
Action Step: Practice overcoming resistance to doing what you know is good for you. Start with something moderately challenging. Like building a muscle, the more you overcome impulses and conditioned behaviors that don’t serve you, the easier it will become.
 
Tip #3: Know Your “Why”
Although it may seem obvious why we want change, asking the question “why do I want…?” can be incredibly powerful and provide the motivation we need to succeed. We desire things because we believe that achieving them will make us feel a certain way. Ultimately, it’s those feelings we’re truly after. Asking “why” aligns us with our authentic self, ensuring our achievements bring the deep fulfillment we seek.
 
Action Step: Ask yourself, “How do I want to feel, and what can I do to feel that way more consistently?” This question can reveal multiple ways to achieve the feelings you desire, giving you flexibility to pursue your goals in a healthy, sustainable way.
 
Tip #4: Acknowledge Progress, Big and Small
Noticing progress builds confidence to move forward and set bigger, bolder goals. It’s easy to dismiss small successes and focus on what still needs to be done, so practice recognizing the skills you’ve developed, the wisdom you’ve gained, and the improvements you were able to make.
 
Action Step: Review your day and acknowledge any progress you’ve made, even if it’s small. Ask yourself, “How can I build on this?”
 
Tip #5: Is Your Environment Supporting You?
Our surroundings greatly influence how we feel and behave, so it’s important to make sure they support the changes we want to make. Whether it’s moving to a new place, removing unhealthy foods from your pantry, or joining a community of like-minded individuals, there are many ways our environment can help us.
 
Action Step: What changes can you make to your environment to support your goals? Start with one simple thing today.
 
Tip #6. Anticipate Obstacles
It certainly would’ve been nice if everything went exactly as we planned, but life has a way of making our journey more “interesting.”  So, it is wise to expect some challenges along the way and be prepared. Being proactive and ready for those situations will help us stay more consistent and get back on track quickly if we encounter a setback.
 
Action Step: Think of potential obstacles and come up with a strategy for resolving them ahead of time as much as possible.
 
Tip #7. Use the Power of Imagination
One of the reasons we avoid change is because our subconscious mind is more concerned with our survival and safety. By default, it prefers what's familiar (the known) to the new (the unknown) because it associates the former with safety and the latter with a possible threat. We also know from neuroscience that our brain cannot tell the difference between what happened and what we vividly imagined. This means that when we vividly and consistently imagine the reality we desire (having successfully made the changes), we familiarize our mind with it so when our new reality begins to realize, it no longer feels unfamiliar. So, our subconscious mind not only doesn't resist it but anticipates it.
 
Action Step: Mentally rehearse the reality you want by engaging all your senses. When you have what you deeply desire - what will it feel like? Look like? Taste or smell like? How would it impact your life, your identity, your beliefs? Take time every day and mentally and emotionally immerse yourself in that future reality.
 
Tip #8: Stack New Habits onto Existing Ones
We know that it takes time and effort to develop a new habit. Linking a new behavior to something that we already habitually do makes it easier to incorporate something new into your routine.
 
Action Steps: How can you link the new behavior to an existing habit? For example: If you want to drink more water, you can do it right after brushing your teeth in the morning. If you want to practice breathing exercises or stretching, after you make your bed could be a time to do it consistently, etc.
 
Tip #9. Be Kind to Yourself
Even when we try to anticipate and be prepared for some setbacks, they can still make us feel discouraged and of course, sometimes life can truly surprise us. Self-compassion helps us recover from these experiences faster and stay motivated.
 
Action Step: You can say to yourself in the moments of discouragement: “I’m doing my best, and that’s enough. When I can do more, I will do more.”
 
Let’s make 2025 the year you made it all happen!