You know when something is not good for you and you know you need to make a change but just can’t be bothered?
Yeah, I feel you.
I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis in 2000 and was put on heavy medication, which kept me in remission for about a decade.
I made no dietary or lifestyle changes during that time; my rheumatologist didn’t even discuss them as options.
And while I was aware it might be helpful to start a yoga practice, to get good sleep rather than having pizza at 2am after burlesque gigs, and to simply stay hydrated, I wasn’t interested in putting in the effort.
Why?
I didn’t realize how my lifestyle and nutrition would impact my health, immediately, and down the road.
And even if I had, I probably wouldn’t have made significant changes because I wasn’t ready to prioritize myself and my health.
At the time, the meds were helping and it was easy to ignore the fact that I had a chronic illness.
Until the meds stopped working and the chronic pain and severe fatigue kicked into high gear...then it was no longer easy to ignore!
I don’t regret that I didn't prioritize myself and my health during the first decade of being diagnosed, but I do hope that my story shows you that it’s never too early, or too late, to make a commitment to yourself and make changes for your wellbeing.
As humans we may “know” we need to make a change but our primitive brain defaults to what’s easy and comfortable.
Our brain loves the familiar because it’s safe.
Our brain loves instant gratification.
Our brain is wired to avoid pain.
Many of us associate change with pain, unfamiliarity, and danger.
That’s why they say, “change is hard.”
So I’ll give you four reasons why you don’t want to change:
You don’t want to feel uncomfortable
You believe change means “all or nothing”
You don’t want to put in the effort
You fear failure
Any of these resonate?
Why might you be avoiding or resisting change? It’s nothing to feel bad or guilty about, it’s human! I'd like to suggest you investigate and understand your “why.”
I dive into this topic on Positively Anti-Inflammatory, Episode 29, “3 Ground Rules to Positive Change.”
How do you approach change? Do you view it as an all or nothing experience and create high, perhaps unrealistic, expectations for yourself? Perhaps fear of failure holds you back? Or do you view change as something that happens slowly over time with a “slow and steady wins the race” attitude? The truth is, for most of us, change brings up lots of different emotions. Join me today as I offer a fresh perspective on the topic of change and share 3 ground rules that will allow for an authentic, life-long positive approach to embracing change.
Tune in and subscribe to Positively Anti-Inflammatory, wherever you find podcasts.
Love, Your Wellness Coach,
Alyssa
