I'm taking a course on coaching / motivational interviewing, and it reminds me of how hard it is to incorporate change into your life style.
My biggest struggle is getting myself focused on a regular exercise routine. The truth is, I have so many other things in my life that must come first. You know what I mean. You can name your own road blocks.
Work, family, getting to the grocery store, putting out fires, figuratively, when an appliance breaks down or you need an emergency plumbing repair. All these other things get in the way.
Then I follow these healthy diet gurus online who brag about their blood sugar numbers and ketones. I watched a gal who made a video of her entire work day and how she fit in time at the cross fit gym and then a session in the sauna after a day full of appointments.
First, I said to myself, she 's going to kill herself at that pace. Then I said, but you don't have young children to raise, (I believe she has a child in college and one soon to graduate high school). She probably has a housekeeper, yard worker and dog walker. I'm smug and pointing out how easy she has it with such a supportive group of people around her. Well, she has to be a good example. Perhaps that is the motivation. She can't fail....... maybe she's falling apart on the inside with this high level of self imposed pressure.
I tell myself diet and exercise shouldn't be that difficult. And I work on ways to make it easier for my practice members. But I can't. It has to come from the individual's deepest desire to do some things differently.
I've even said, "It shouldn't be this hard. I quit." And I've quit, many times. It's the re-starting that makes me feel worse because I see how much progress I wasted. Then I berate myself. I really wasn't that bad off, but now I have to make up for lost time. That lost time is really demoralizing. But it's never too late. The studies have shown that muscle can be re-toned at any age. I'm getting back on track. You can too.
Change, after all, is a verb. It comes from your inspired actions.
But what kind of change do you want?
You can go to a medical physician because you want a change. You are given a pill and brief advice. Does this inspire action? No. It's like a visit to the principal's office, so it's more of a lecture and a depressing interaction. It may provide superficial change.
Do I offer something different? I hope so. Most folks don't like taking pills and will stop taking them or take less. Others will take them consistently without realizing the nutrient deficiencies that follow, which makes them feel worse or they believe their disease has progressed. Nothing empowering here.
I offer an explanation of why the body does what it does. All body responses are logical and correct for the situation. It may take more time to understand this different point of view. This is the part that is unique only to you and no text book in medical school (or chiropractic college) addresses this.
This seminar reminds me that everyone starts at the contemplation/recontemplation stage. It should be called the ruminating stage. The starting is the most challenging.
And I know, as a chiropractor, it boils down to the patterns wired into your brain. When I talk to people resistant to change it is because their brains are drained of nutrients. They are in an energy crisis brought on by an excessive fight or flight response.
That's why the next step after verbalizing a desired goal is to assess the brain's capacity then concentrate on a brain nurturing plan.
*Brain First * Body Follows*
* Brain First then...Behaviors Can Be Enhanced.
Here's a quick hint: Get adequate sleep!
Next: Get coaching from me: The Brain First Protocol.
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