Have you ever caught yourself doing something that you know you shouldn’t do? We’ve all done it. Nothing illegal, just something counter to your goals.
You say you’re going to sleep a full 8 hours tonight, but Netflix just loaded a new season of your favourite show and you watch 3 back-to-back episodes instead. As you drag yourself to bed after midnight, you imagine how tired you’ll be in the morning.
Or maybe you decide to make your coffee at home to skip the latte and scone you’ve become so fond of, but there’s never enough time to brew it before you run out the door.
Why is it so hard to do what’s good for us?
For real. I love making healthy choices in my life now, but it wasn’t always that way. And there are still new habits I’m trying to form that I find to be very difficult. But that’s ok.
I know I’m not alone.
We “know” what we should do but don’t do it often because we’re disconnected from our core values. We may have bought into the marketing machine – the commercials that show us slender, young, beautiful men and women with ripped abs, eating cheeseburgers and fries, while throwing back a beer.
But you can change all that in your life.
It’s time to challenge your thinking. Take 10 minutes to explore what your core values really are, Write them all down. Is it having fun? Being loved? Being adventurous? Being compassionate? Being generous?
Once you’ve done this, take a few moments to compare your values with they lifestyle choices you make. If you’re like most of us, you’ll see some things look great, while others seem to be way out of alignment with our values.
Your values will drive your behaviours.
If you know what your values are, they can be a catalyst for you to unplug from your current way of living. Instead of guilting yourself into “doing the right thing,” look for ways to connect your desired behaviours with your values.
If you want to get more exercise and you value family, you can view the time spent working out as a way to be more energetic to do fun activities together. If you value friendship, link a walk or yoga class to social time with a friend. If you’re having a challenge quitting smoking and you value compassion, consider how much more you can help the people around you when you feel healthy and redirect your spending away from nicotine toward a charity you believe in.
Connecting with your values can be a catalyst for you to unplug from your current way of living and adopt new, healthy habits. When you re-frame your thinking, something that seems so difficult can become much easier. Looking at our lifestyle choices through the lens of having a life of deeper meaning can make all the difference.
Tell Me:
What is your soul telling you is missing in your life? What new healthy mindset or habit do you feel compelled to start? Please share in the comments. Community is a beautiful catalyst for lasting growth.
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Blessings,
Sheila
