Change. It is daunting to begin or sometimes even to think about change in our cozy, comfortable little lives. We get so used to the way things are, even if those things make our lives harder. We fear stepping outside our comfort zones and we even “take the long route” just to avoid it. There’s nothing easier than to continue doing what you already know, what is familiar and those with outcomes you can already predict. So, how do we go about approaching this elephant in the room?

First things first, we have to decide we want it. I have spent many years trying to be, “a better me“. Like everyone else, I have many days when I give up and I just, “don’t care” anymore… but, once I am done wallowing in my sorrows, it’s time to pick myself up and keep moving forward.

Even though I know I want to [insert goal here, e.g., get healthy, lose weight, be happy, etc.], the part that I find most challenging is motivation. Being motivated and continuing to stay motivated are, in my opinion, the most important parts of reaching any goal. This can be especially hard when you do things that have slothful results.

I find it most manageable to plan my change. I know everyone says to, “start slow” and “make little changes”, but that is exactly right. Planning these little changes helps build the foundation to actualize these goals. I also found that planning helps me to stay motivated by giving me things to look forward to. Tell and remind yourself what you plan for each day, e.g., “I’m going to do 10 squats today”. Even if you only end up doing 5, it’s still something.

It is OK if you fail. This is something I have to remind myself constantly. I get so worked up and disheartened when I don’t meet my goals or when I don’t see results, that I sometimes cut myself short and end up giving up before I even gave it a fair shot. Maybe all I had to do was push myself a little bit further. I won’t know if I don’t try.

So boys, girls and non-binaries, it’s time to take that leap of faith. You may fall and hit every rock on the way down, but you won’t fly if you don’t try and you can’t get to the top if you don’t get back up. I can’t tell you if I will make great strides or if I will slam my face in the ground, but change is coming and my resolve will be tested.

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius