This Year I Will... Getting into Action IV

Did you know that learning happens in 3 phases? The first is called Post Hoc - you recognize after the fact that you wanted to do things differently. This is good, because before, you weren't even aware enough to know what was going on. The second is called Ad Hoc - you're aware while you're doing it, that you want to do it differently. The third is Pre Hoc - you're learned it so well that you've got it in place before anything happens. It's great to be in the third stage... but you need to go through the first two stages to get there! And in that, you can feel like you're making no progress, because you're painfully aware of all your screw-ups... but at least you're aware of them! Just don't judge yourself as being "bad" and give up in defeat... Awareness of screw-ups means you're on the road of progress...

Changing in-grown habits is hard work... It requires committment, not a lazy-hazy attitude... It's a serious challenge, so show up that way... mentally, emotionally, spiritually... It's in showing up that we display our grit, our determination to succeed... It's not something you have, it's something you create when you choose to show up for what you really want for yourself...

So you're done some changes, now... how are you progressing?? It's good to spend some time in reflection, to do a post-game review. What worked? What didn't work? What could you do differently next time?

When you're making changes, it's helpful to think of it one day at a time... I will exercise today. And then tomorrow, I will do it again... Don't think "forever" and "never again"... your mind doesn't like that sort of stuff! It can handle doing without chocolate for one day. And then again tomorrow... Your brain wants to maintain the status quo, but is also hardwired for adaptation. Too much of a change and your mind strains to keep the status quo in place... Little changes it can handle though...

Finally, don't be so hard on yourself! So you didn't do yoga 2 days out of 2 weeks... Don't take it so hard. Appreciate yourself for what you do do... Be grateful for what you've accomplished... Focus on what you did wrong and chances are, that's what you'll get in your future. Focus on what you did right and... same thing, you'll get more of that in your future. So rather than focussing on beating yourself up, focus on appreciation and gratitude... and see what shows up.