The measure of intelligence is the ability to change -Albert Einstein.

This week, I chatted with someone who was eager to make positive changes but needed help to kick off new habits. We’ve all been there – wanting to do something good but feeling stuck. Let’s break it down.

Change isn’t a cakewalk; our brains adore habits and resist anything new. It’s like they’re trying to protect us from potential risks. Back in the day, it helped us dodge dangers like saber-toothed tigers, programmed to alert us to potential threats. So, when we try something new, our brain sends alert signals to hold us back.

How do we break free from our subconscious to make changes? We recognize what it’s doing. Imagine your brain as a detective, always on the lookout for trouble. When you shine a light on it, you can say, “Gotcha, I know what’s going on! I’m doing this anyway!”

In simpler terms, become consciously aware of the subconscious pattern.  Once aware, treat it as a signal to ignore – a cue to break free from old habits or embrace new ones. However, detecting what’s going on can be tricky in the heat of the moment.

Let’s dive into making changes. Take starting a daily walking routine, for example.  But after dinner, when it’s time for that stroll, a familiar voice says, “Start tomorrow,” or “It’s too cold,” or “What if you get mugged?”

That voice is your brain trying to keep you safe and unintentionally stopping you from doing what you want. To break the pattern, tell that voice, “Not today!” The more you do it, the easier it gets.

Here’s a nifty tool to add to your toolkit: goal setting. Turn your daily walk into a game! Challenge yourself to beat yesterday’s step count. Make it fun; turn it into a competition with yourself. Transforming your routine into a game adds excitement and motivation.

Sure, it’s not a walk in the park (pun intended!), and if it were, I’d be out of business. I’m here to guide you, help you recognize those tricky patterns, and provide tools, like turning goals into a game, to rewire your brain and create a life you love.

For those who’ve attended my workshops, you know they’re packed with valuable tools. Whether you’ve attended before or not, register for this month’s class and learn more about overcoming obstacles to what we want.

You’ve got this, and I’m cheering you on every step of the way!