Knowing what to change is very different than knowing how to change. Arriving at the point where you commit to making lifestyle changes is a very complex process but often when it comes down to it, making the changes themselves are actually very simple. The hardest part is making up your mind that you actually, totally, 100% want to change something. The second hardest thing is picking the right tools to help you keep that resolve while you are establishing the new habits.
Like many people who have struggled with bad habits and addictions, I experienced mixed feelings about whether or not I actually wanted to give up various habits and substances. I understood that any big change means some kind of loss, even if it is the loss of something that is not very good for you, it is nevertheless the loss of something familiar and often comforting. For instance, I knew that when I gave up alcohol I would also be giving up so much of how I was socializing as well as what I was drinking. I was also giving up the story I had in my head about how much fun drinking was and the social lubrication that came with it. Giving up was a big decision and took a number of attempts. Even though I didn’t exactly lose my old friends, everything about the way I met with them changed and it wasn’t easy. Now, I have a lot of new friends with similar interests in Yoga, hiking, paddle boarding and Ayurveda and who also choose not to drink, or at least not very often. Drinking alcohol never even crosses my mind anymore and I’ve had some really cool, new, exciting adventures because of my choices. I never thought I would train to be a Yoga teacher, move country, take up paddle boarding and become an Ayurvedic practitioner! This took time, but it was so worth it and it has changed the trajectory of my health, happiness and life.
The route to change is individual, but I do know that there are some things that are common to nearly everyone. It’s easier when you are clear on your WHY, it’s way easier when you do it with other people and having some tools in your kit makes the job much more straightforward.
Some of the tools that you will learn about in consultations are:
How to become absolutely clear about what you want and when you want it.
How to find and state your ‘why’.
How to evolve your habits to align with your true self- what is your new identity?
How to build trust in yourself and your new identity.
How to change your mind and your story about the thing that you want to change.
How to change bit by bit, so you hardly notice that it’s happening.
How to keep coming back to your change process day after day because you know that it is your ‘practice’ and it is not something that happens once and for all.
How to set ‘booby traps’ in your home to stop you from doing the old habit and make you want to do the new one.
How to change your language, thinking and, therefore actions around your habits.
How to use humour and not take yourself too seriously!
How to stack your habits so that you are shaping your mornings, evenings, days, weeks, months and years into a life that is truly aligned.
You will learn so many strategies from both behavioural science and the wisdom teachings of Ayurveda that will facilitate your change. And doing it in a group of likeminded and supportive people makes all the difference, it really does. You don’t have to struggle in silence, or alone.