AS HUMAN BEINGS, we all have the desire to do
better... to be better.
For those of us who make the effort to open up,
take a hard look, and gain awareness about ourselves, it's only the beginning
of the process of change.
It took me ages to really get that for myself.
I used to think it was enough to be aware of the
things I wanted to change.
That awareness is huge. Nothing can happen
without it.
Awareness leads to great insight. But it takes
more than insights to create real change.
It takes action. Not once. Not here and there. Consistent,
persistent action.
That was a tough pill to swallow as someone who used to be more of a thinker than a doer.
When it comes to personal growth, we're often
tempted to get impatient, especially when we see something in ourselves that
needs to change.
Sometimes we pretend not to be aware so we can
avoid responsibility (aka denial), even as that little voice in our heads is
actively calling us out.
We want the instant gratification. Grow dammit!
But like everything else, it takes hard work.
Persistent, consistent work.
It can be frustrating when a bad
habit stubbornly lingers, especially after putting in the work to
change it.
What you should know from the start is that
certain tendencies and temptations may never go away. They'll always linger.
That's what makes us all imperfectly perfect.
The challenge is in choosing to indulge something
better for yourself in those moments of temptation.
This applies to everything...
-physical
habits like picking up that bag of chips
-thought habits like constantly
thinking you're not good enough for XYZ
-communication habits like
talking shit about co-workers, family members, etc.
If you're really committed to changing something,
get ready for battle, but know that the longer you stick to your guns, the
stronger you'll be in the fight.
And know the most important weapon in your
arsenal is patience.
When we tend to ourselves with care and
compassion, we're more equipped to put our best foot forward in whatever it is
we're striving for.
It doesn't mean letting ourselves off the hook. It just means not beating ourselves up, and choosing instead to own it, recommit, and move forward.
Pretty soon you'll be looking back in wonder at
how much you've outgrown that little ole pot you were planted in.
MOJO NEWSFLASH!
***Tune in today at 2PM to hear my live interview on SpeakSpin Radio! If you miss it, you'll be able to download after.
