Fitness and Muscle

Health, Muscle & Fitness Articles Section

Home - Fitness & Muscle | Muscle Building Articles | Cardio Articles | Fitness Equipment Articles | Weight Loss Articles | Exercise Articles | Yoga Articles | Supplement Articles | Exercise Motivation Articles | Nutrition Articles | Acne Articles | Breast Cancer Articles | Beauty Articles | Attraction Articles | Dating Articles | Depression Articles | Diabetes Articles | Goal Setting Articles | Hair Loss Articles | Martial Arts Articles | Meditation Articles | Motivation Articles | Pregnancy Articles


Motivation: 3 Keys to Lasting Change


David Bowie once sang, "Ch-ch-changes, tryin' to face the strain."

There are times in life when trying to change can be a strain. If you are like most folks, you have tried to change something in your life. And, like most folks, may have found yourself frustrated when you were unable to change. Perhaps it was a habit, an attitude, or some part of an important relationship. Whatever the issue, try as you might, you were not able to get the changes you wanted.

Welcome to the club, it's a big one.

Here's the really good news - you can get the changes you want! And it doesn't have to take years and years and cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, two of the more common myths about the process of change.

Here's a question - have you ever tried to open a ketchup bottle with a lizard? Of course not. The reason behind that rather odd question is to illustrate how frustrating and silly it is to try to do a job without the proper tools. My job in this column, and as a counselor, is simply to give you some of the tools that I have found useful in helping people get the changes they want in their lives.

Today we will look at three key tools for getting the changes you want, whether it's at work or home.

Focus on what you want, not what you don't want

What do the following statements have in common; "I want to stop smoking", "I want to stop yelling at my kids", "I've gotta stop working so hard", "I need to stop neglecting my marriage." One thing they have in common is they are all statements from clients, in the first session, when I ask them what they would like to be different about their lives. Another thing these statements have in common is that they all focus on what they don't want.

Why is that important? Well, think about it for a moment. When you first learned how to throw a ball, were you taught where to throw it to or where to not throw it? Another silly question, really. Of course you were taught to focus on where you wanted the ball to go.

In the same way, to achieve the changes you want, focus on what you want, not what you don't want. It's really not that difficult. In the examples above, all we need is a change in wording, which brings a change in focus.

Here's a sample of what I mean -

"I want to stop smoking" becomes "I want to be smoke free."

"I want to stop yelling at my kids" becomes "I want to manage my kids (and myself) better."

"I've gotta stop working so hard" becomes "I want to work smarter, not harder, and enjoy life more."

"I need to stop neglecting my marriage" becomes "I need to make my marriage a priority."

And so on.

Focus on one change at a time

Trying to change too many things at once dooms you to frustration at best, and failure at worst. You can end up like the side show at the circus. You know the one, where the guy is spinning several plates on a stick, and has to run around to keep them all spinning at once. Eventually, you wear out, quit, and all the plates come tumbling down.

When working on changes, especially at first, focus on one area of change at a time. As you get your "psychological feet" under you in one area, move on the next, and then the next, etc.

In this way, if you worked on one change a week for a year, that's 50 things you could change in a year, with two weeks off for vacation.

Aim for progress, not perfection.

Let's say you want to quit smok- oops, I mean become smoke free, for instance. You make it for six days, and then smoke one cigarette. It's important to remember that six days smoke free is progress. Go for six more and then build from there.

What you don't want to do is focus on the slip-up, and then give up in frustration. So many times we expect perfection from ourselves when we want to change. That's a sure set-up for failure.

Focus on the progress, even if it's one step up and two steps back. Keep going, and eventually you can get to 100 steps up and an occasional step back.

Focus on what you want, one change at a time, aim for progress. That's a three part prescription for successful change.

Thanks for reading, and keep the change.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.


MORE RESOURCES:



dumbbell routines and exercises

Dumbbell Routines & Exercises eBook - Click Here

Increase Your Muscle Size And Improve Your Physical Fitness In 90 Days Or You Get To Keep This Breakthrough eBook FREE!

"Dumbbell Exercises and Lifting Routines To Help You Gain More Muscle, Lose Weight, or Just Get Yourself in Better Physical Shape... WITHOUT the Hassles, and Expenses of Health Clubs"

"Instant Access to An Illustrated, PDF Ebook That Will Give YOU The Routines You Need To Get In Better Shape in 90 Days or less - Or Your Money Back!" Get the scoop here.

Increase Your Muscle Size And Improve Your Physical Fitness In 90 Days Or You Get To Keep This Breakthrough Fitness Guide FREE!


"Instant Access to An Illustrated, Downloadable Guide That Will Give YOU The Routines You Need To Get In Better Shape in 90 Days or Less - Or Your Money Back! Learn More."


Serious Fitness Supplements - Muscle Builders

Hyper Gain Creatine CompoundHyper Gain
Introducing "Hyper Gain"... The First 100% Bioavailable Buffered Creatine Compound With 100% Stable Uptake And ZERO Toxic Conversion That Lives Up To Its Claims Of Huge Gains In Muscle Mass.

Jacked Up
New Anabolic Compound Can Bring Your Post Cycle Testosterone Levels Back To Normal (And Beyond) As Quickly As Possible.

Xenomine
"New Fat Burner Produces 43% Faster Loss Of Unwanted Body Fat… Without Side Effects!" Landmark scientific trial in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" proves the ingredients in Xenomine can rapidly and dramatically burn off unwanted body fat… without the over-stimulation and side effects of Ephedra.


Muscle Building Growth program "A Completely Different Approach To Bodybuilding That Can Build Your Physique To Its Maximum Genetic Potential!"

"Break Free From Your Current Rut By Utilizing Muscle Building Volume Training Techniques"

A step-by-step guide that teaches you the secrets, tips, and techniques you need to know to build a chiseled, muscular, ripped, head-turning physique...FAST!

The "Hyper-Growth Muscle Mass Training" course is an extremely effective natural human growth hormone stimulator and packs on slabs of muscle mass, size and enourages hypertrophy faster than you would've ever thought possible...while burning off body fat like crazy!

Highly recommended! Click Here For Maximum Muscle Growth








Fitness-and-Muscle.com Site Navigation
Home Page | Muscle Fitness Magazine | Muscle Fitness Hers | Fitness Supplements | Muscle Supplements | Fitness Muscle Equipment | Muscle Building | Fitness Competition | Muscle Compeititon | Arm Muscles | Home Fitness Workout | Huge Muscles | Muscle Building Workout | Fitness Muscle DVDs | Fitness Accessories | Fitness Dating | Muscle Fitness Articles | Muscle Links | Contact Us