Lasting Change Key Components

Posted on December 23, 2013 by John Pesciallo, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

LASTING CHANGE KEY COMPONENTS
By John Pesciallo, BSW, CWPC on 12-17-2013

For people to make changes it helps if they have things in place that will support lasting change. I mean really, who wants temporary change for the important life changes? A person may make a New Year’s Resolution, but how often do those resolutions end in a couple of weeks or so? To make a change in one’s life takes motivation, commitment and a plan at the very least. A system that can be relied upon. Below is a list of key components that will help in achieving lasting lifestyle change.

MOTIVATION: It is important to establish the value of the desired change; the benefits and rewards. Once the value is clear, then making a commitment to “value the value.” It is easier to stay motivated if a significant commitment is made to stay focused on your lifestyle goals. Of the Lasting Change Key Components, I believe motivation is essential and filters through the other components.

EXPECTATIONS: Making lifestyle changes does not occur all at once. Instead of expecting immediate change it is easier to stay motivated and dedicated if change is viewed as a change process. Recognize any expectation that leads to more frustration and quickly modify them to support your lifestyle goals.

A PLAN THAT FITS: Everyone has different personalities, strengths, beliefs, and learning style. Make plans for your valued change that are congruent with who you are and focuses on the positives. Plan out how you will deal with challenges and still stay motivated and focused. This includes planning out short-term and long-term objectives. It is vitally important to write down your plans as it adds to your dedication and follow through. This list of lasting change key components would only be a wish list for change if not written down.

KEEP IT SIMPLE: Breaking down your short and long-term objectives into simple to follow tasks (action steps). This helps keep things doable, measurable, and rewarding. Give yourself adequate time to achieve even the small simple steps. By keeping your action steps simple it is easier to see progress and feel motivated to continue.

ONE THING AT A TIME: Trying to accomplish too much, too soon, with too little planning leads to frustration. Prioritize your action steps and give yourself enough time to complete it. Breaking old habits and developing new habits takes time. By doing one action step at a time you allow yourself to solidify the small changes you are making. Many small strongly held changes make for a solid foundation.

ACTIVE SUPPORT: Enlist the support of people who are positive and reasonably ambitious plus willing to support you, motivate you, and hold you accountable. If possible, someone who has already had success with making lifestyle changes. Another support person might be someone going through the same challenges as you are. You team up to support and encourage each other. Support groups are an option. It is usually easier to stay motivated and focused on the change process if we are not alone on this path. This is another of the Lasting Change Key Components that is sifted though out the other components.

BEING PROACTIVE: Being motivated, ready, and having a written plan and support for carrying out that plan is great. Sometimes you may need something more. Don’t wait. Be proactive. Seek out additional information and help as needed. Read and educate yourself on the things you are facing in this change process. Reach out to those who will support and listen to your needs. Seek out professional help and take advantage of their specialized training and approaches they have for successfully reaching goals. They can help you in overcoming mental, emotional, behavioral obstacles to the lifestyle change process.

REWARDS: You are investing your time and energy into this process. It helps to have a “vision” of what your end-goal is for this lifestyle change process. By having this vision and your plan with doable action steps, you will be able to see progress in reaching your short-term objectives. You’ve worked hard! How will you reward yourself for accomplishing each short-term objective? A reward that will support and not conflict with your lifestyle change. If you are trying to lose weight, for example, then don’t reward yourself with food. Use an activity as a reward. Maybe you will buy something special for yourself. You could invite friends, family and your support people over for a game night or something. Your reward is not to be in conflict with your goals or your lifestyle change process. A supportive reward helps avoid sabotaging the steps you have been taking in reaching your short-term and long-term objective to reach your big goal!

These lasting change key components are a lot of work, but your goal is worth it. You are worth it! To make lasting change BE lasting change it takes a system. Without a system our efforts can be inconsistent and unreliable. By following these key components you have a system for getting yourself on track and focused. When things go wrong or you come up against obstacles, you have system to look back on to brainstorm options for managing those obstacles. These lasting change key components is a tool for success.

As a lifestyle change facilitator, I coach people through these “key components” to help insure that they stay motivated, focused, on track, and can maximize their lifestyle change process success!

To Your Success,

John