The Joy of One Small Change

When we've decided that we want to change something important to us (our energy levels, our overall health, our fiber intake, triglyceride levels) it's common to experience one of two impulses:

The impulse to change everything at once, to do it all, to go all-in!

Or

The impulse to just...put the changes off awhile ("I'll start next Monday, after vacation, after school starts...")

On either path, we typically miss our goals completely.

Either we never begin, and are unable to create the momentum that small success creates. Or, we change SO much, SO fast that we get cranky, irritable, and frustrated with the overwhelm of big change. And we ultimately toss the whole idea out the window.

When the change we're considering is truly important to both make and maintain, we might consider another approach:

Change just one thing.

Only one.

Until it's a habit.

Then, maintain that habit and change one new thing.

If you've met some success by barrelling into projects in the past, you might be reading this and thinking "where could that possibly take me? I know how to really get stuff done!" And if you're like many of my clients, you are wildly capable and have a host of success in other areas of life.

The changes we are trying to make here are long-term, and deeply tied into many aspects of our identities and lifestyles. The roots of our habits run deep. If we can choose a small change to start with, perhaps even one we can find a bit of joy in, we have begun the journey of pruning and nourishing that will create the stronger, healthier us we long to become.

This can be a journey of ease. This can be a journey, even, of delight in the new!

Perhaps we try one new vegetable each shopping trip, learning to prepare and savor new flavors as we increase the quality of our nutrition.

Perhaps we leave the house and walk 5 minutes away, and then back home. And we do that until it's easy, natural, part of our daily routine.

Perhaps we start our day with one 12 oz glass of water, knowing that whatever happens throughout the day, we've already increased our hydration a bit more than yesterday.

Perhaps we sit for 5 minutes in the car before we leave work and do a brief body scan, giving ourselves replenishment in this connection with our body and breath before we go into the rest of our day.

There are countless options for where this small change can start. As you think about some options, try to pick one change that you might enjoy - even just a little - and set your first goal so small that you almost laugh at how easy it will be for you to meet. You can do this.

Just one thing.

Slow and steady.

Begin today.