More than you can chew. This aphorism is especially apt when it comes to making changes in your personal life. I know there is a school of thought out there that says you should make all the changes all at once. Clean out the pantry, chuck all the bad out and buy new, make a 180 degree turn and do it all at once.

Often this is a recipe for disaster. You get overwhelmed. The task is monumental. And you start to back slide and miss your targets. Then you feel bad, like a failure (again). And getting back on the horse is just too daunting. So you quit. Does this sound familiar?

Here’s the answer to this dilemma. Do one thing. One small thing. An easy thing. Do it for 21 days. Then pick another thing. Do that thing for 21 days. Replace habits with different, healthier habits. It takes 21 days to create a new habit (so say the experts!).

So if you are still drinking soda…rather than quitting cold turkey…replace 1 soda with a bottle of water for 21 days. Then repeat another 21 days replacing the soda until you are no longer drinking soda. Voila! No more soda.

Rather than cutting all flour out of your diet try cutting just bread for 21 days. Don’t stop drinking alcohol forever just do it for 21 days. Or replace an everyday habit with an every other day habit. And then make it a once a week habit. Small changes create big results over time.

You can do this with almost anything. Learn a new language by spending just 5 minutes a day and increasing that time every 21 days. Write that novel that has been brewing your whole life the same way. Just 5 minutes a day until that becomes a habit. If you think about moving the steering wheel on your car just 1 degree, it won’t be long before you are traveling in a whole new direction!
This plan is exactly the same way. Make a small subtle shift. One that you can stick with and feel successful with. You have to crawl before you can walk, walk before you run, and run before you are ready to really soar.
You can do this. You eat an elephant one bite at a time. The task is too daunting otherwise. Grab your fork and dig in!

Bon Appétit!

John Mariotti
www.crossfit-odyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook!