Change Your Mind, Change Your Life
Don’t wrestle with change. Find opportunity in it, and take control of your health.
By Polly Campbell
This year, more than 100 million Americans will make resolutions, and most will vow to improve their health, according to research from the University of Washington in Seattle – and I’m one of them.
I’ve written out my goals – lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier and stress less. Aside from the mental boost and satisfaction I’ll feel when I achieve my goals, I know that more exercise and a lower weight will ease my symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and help me feel better overall.
My resolve stays strong, right up until I order a thick-crust cheesy Canadian bacon pie, rather than cook at home. Then comes the frustration and guilt.
Making lifestyle changes – even when our health and quality of life would be improved greatly – can be downright difficult. Just ask anyone who is trying to quit smoking or lose weight. When it comes to keeping our resolutions, more than 60 percent of us will falter within six months, according to research by psychologist John Norcross, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania.
Making a Successful Change:Rewire Your Brain
Plus How to stick with it: 6 tips for successful change
Follow Polly's progress on Arthritis Today's Achieving Change blog |
Expect Setbacks
Setbacks are a normal part of change, but they shouldn’t keep us from trying. Change –
by its very nature – has built-in benefits, says Alan Marlatt, PhD, a psychologist
and director of the University of Washington Addictive Behaviors Research Center.
The process of change is, in itself, an impetus for personal growth and self-awareness, says Marlatt. When you are committed to doing something you know is better for your body and your health, you’re likely to feel better about yourself, more empowered and more in control.
When you actually make a change, your self-esteem soars and you get a surge of satisfaction and pride. Those good feelings and the knowledge that you can change successfully may inspire you to take on other challenges.
Aside from the mental boost, there are the obvious health benefits from stopping smoking, dropping 20 pounds or walking 30 minutes a day. These changes can reduce stress and pain, ease depression, boost energy and literally add years to your life.
So why, then, is it so darn hard to change?
