Your SPARK for this week: To change, make changes.
I was recently on SiriusXM talking about how to create healthy habits. My dear friend and radio host, Taylor Strecker, wants to look good by bikini season. (Don't we all?) She wants to have a steady workout routine. (Sounds good.) She wants to love her body…. (Us too.)… But she hadn't been able to get herself to the gym. (Sound familiar?)
I get it. I'm sure you do too. You commit to health at 7 am, then eat the doughnut by 11. You commit to run after work, then watch Real Housewives with a bottle of wine instead. You commit to following your dream career, then take on new responsibilities at your old job instead.
So as the late positive psychologist, Chris Peterson, asked, “When we know what we know, why do we do what we do?” Peterson made this brilliant statement to show us just how much we resist making changes. We know we're supposed to eat green leafy vegetables. We know we're supposed to meditate, work out, and take time for ourselves. So why don't we?
Fear. It's that simple. You're afraid to make change. You're getting some sort of reward out of the old habit, so your brain keeps doing it. For one of my clients on my New Hope in New Hope retreat this weekend, she's afraid to separate from her husband because, while the known may be miserable, at least it's known, plus, she fears what others will say.
What reward are you getting from staying the same? What are you really afraid of? And more importantly, why do you want this change? How will you feel when you make it? What will you be able to do or have? Who will you be when you create a new healthy habit?
One of my students wanted to lose weight, but he kept framing it as a “should” – which is totally uninspiring, demotivating, and drab. Instead, another student asked him why. He began envisioning a date with his handsome, in-shape husband. He pictured the sexy pants he'd wear out. He got excited about feeling like a hot couple about town. THAT POSITIVE IMAGE motivated him. He then created small changes, asked others to hold him accountable, and made it happen.
Josh had been inspiring me around making change big-time. After our miscarriage we stopped exercising and for months we'd said we 
needed to start running again. Then one day, a friend said that he had run every day for 6 years so Josh put his shoes on and vowed to run every day. It's been 156 days so far and he got me to run a 5 mile race last weekend!
I also just made some dietary changes to improve my “gut” health. Watch the video below to learn how to make your own changes!
And here are a few tips about making change:
1. Be Intentional. Every change begins with a decision, a commitment, an intention. Write your intention out and look at it daily.
2. Know Why: Why do you want what you want? How will you feel when you have it? What will you then have? Envision yourself feeling and being this great way.
3. Take ONE small step: Break the goal into SMALL changes and make one at a time. Too many changes are overwhelming so just do one thing.
Also, it's best to have others support you in making change. I'm offering to hold all of you accountable and cheerlead you on! Just join my Facebook group and share the change you want to make and why. We'll do it together!
XOXO,
Carin
PS – Please share the love. If you have friends who you know are ready to live their joy, please share this link with them so they can sign up to receive this newsletter. Thanks!
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JOIN ME LIVE at one of these Upcoming Events!
May 5: WakeUP! with Taylor SiriusXM 109 appearance, 8:10 am ET
May 18: Love Your Body Webinar with Taylor Strecker – Click here to register
May 19: WakeUP! with Taylor SiriusXM 109 appearance, 8:10 am ET
May 19: JUF Young Women's Council Event, Chicago, IL Click here to register.
Also… after a previous newsletter, many of you asked me for more information on the 4 month Fab Fierce Feminine group program and about the Positive Psychology certification I teach – we'll be in 12 cities worldwide this Fall (I'm teaching in Miami, FL!): Click here for info,.
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