Progress, not perfection

I’ve shared this before but worth sharing this great poem again that captures the change process:

Portia Nelson
Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost. I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in. It’s a habit. But my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5
I walk down another street.
 
We all have that one bad habit we KNOW we shouldn’t be doing. Yet, we continue to do it.

It’s an unconscious pattern that we have gotten ourselves into.
Maybe it’s scrolling on social media for too long
Playing a video game on the phone
Grabbing that third handful of chips from the cupboard
Grabbing that fourth cuppa coffee with loads of sugar and cream
Talking to ourselves in a way that’s negative, worrisome, anxious or fearful
Making yourself crazy for a week chasing a "100%" performance, then burning out and giving up.
 
Here’s the thing, when it comes to changing a habit, getting in shape, eating better, creating a life you desire….there will always be roads to navigate. The process is never linear.

What saddens me is those who have started and stopped so many times they’ve unconsciously conditioned themselves that it really won’t work. They wait for the perfect day. The perfect time. When things settle down, I’ll do it.

Or something I heard a lot as a business owner, “I’ll start the program when I lose the weight first.”

There is already a wall put up by those limiting beliefs that someone will commit to themselves for the long game.

And that’s my message for today.

Play the long-game.
Keep showing up.
Keep trying.
Be patient.

Progress, not perfection
Remember that changing habits can be challenging. Here a 5 tips to help you along:

• Know your own habits, tendencies, and patterns. What obstacles await? How could you try something different so that you’re not falling in the same hole over and over?
• Self-compassion changes us much better than self-criticism.
• Don’t linger. Start climbing. If you slip up, all you have to do is take the next positive step forward.
• Knowing the hole is there is a great start. Now, try doing something positive about it.
• What's one small thing you can do today to try a different route down the street?
• Bonus tip: Sometimes you might feel lost, stuck or overwhelmed. That’s OK. Keep going. Do your best with what you have.

It’s my goal to help those who want to go from stuck to sustainable, to eliminate their limits, to recommit to themselves, find and nourish their purpose.

If you want to chat more about how to get unstuck, clear the overwhelm and on a road to balance and peace, I am here.

If you’re interested in coaching, join me for this 4-week journey, Spring into Nutrition Reset.

You can find all the details here.

The hardest part is taking that first step and I'll be with you every step of the way.

Nourish your purpose now,

Rebecca