Mourning

It occurred to me this weekend that sometimes the "thing" holding us back from our wellness goals (or maybe it's just one of the "things") is that we don't really acknowledge that we are giving up or changing something we like (or something we are just super comfortable with).

I want to work on this for myself, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on it with you. If you're trying to eat more veggies and fewer fries, don't just hammer home the "EAT VEGGIES" message over and over again---that part is important to focus on, but give yourself the opportunity to acknowledge and let go of giving up the fries.

Step 1. Make a plan
Sub-step 1. Identify what you're adding to your life and what you're taking away.
Sub-step 2. Think about (and write down) what it is about the thing you're giving up that you'll miss. Remind yourself why you'll be better off without it. Then just miss it for a little while.

Step 2. Try your plan
Step 3. Evaluate and re-plan
(repeat steps as needed)

So, it's not quite so black and white, but you get the idea. Sometimes I really miss things like grilled cheese on white bread and oreos (and I'm not saying I would never have those things), but they're not a part of my lifestyle anymore. I didn't have a hard time giving up coffee in a caffeine-addiction sense, but I miss the ritual of coffee. I'm slowly getting used to my new rituals and habits, and I can see myself liking them more in the long-run. I think I had to really acknowledge missing the old stuff and then let it go.

What about you?