Having worked with thousands of clients over the years, I’ve seen time and again that creating wellbeing is a process of building momentum.
We all have the potential to get stuck in a rut. Everyone who’s experienced it has their own unique story of how it transpired, whether it was a significant injury or illness or the accumulation of challenging life events that overwhelmed their innate ability to bounce back. Luckily, we never lose the capacity to recover, even though sometimes it can feel like we have.
Everyone has some knowledge of the things that underpin wellbeing: quality nutrition, restful sleep, adequate hydration, regular movement or exercise, a purpose in life and a sense of belonging or community.
Getting started is often the hardest part. If only the worse we felt, the more motivated we were to do the things we know would help us feel better. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. So, how do we move from illness to health? How do we flick the switch that creates momentum? Here are a few thoughts:
Find the minimum threshold
One key to making changes is to find the smallest step you can take so that you are pretty much guaranteed to succeed. For example, if you’ve decided you’re going to add some more movement to your daily routine by doing a bit of yoga each morning, then break the process down to the absolute minimum starting point. Simply commit to rolling out your yoga mat and coming into child’s pose. Chances are if you’ve made it that far, you’ll feel like doing more, and if you do one stretch, you have started to build a new healthy habit. The same applies to whatever aspect of your wellbeing you decide to start with. Pick the least threatening, most enjoyable one and start there.
Add rather than subtract
Rather than trying to give something up, like coffee for example, try adding extra hydration to your daily routine instead. Most people are chronically dehydrated, so find a water bottle and make sure you fill it at the start of the day and finish it by the end of the day as a starting point. You can use this same method for adding nutrition rather than trying to cut things out of your diet. The point is to make it easy to begin the process. In time, the better you feel, the easier it is to continue to make more positive changes.
Turning ‘shoulds’ into wants
As mentioned earlier, we don’t always do the things we know would help us feel better because making changes is hard. It takes effort, and when you’re not feeling good, chances are you’re already struggling to cope with life. The worst thing you can do is beat yourself up for your current choices as that just sets up a spiral of shame and self-flagellation which further demotivates you. Allow the momentum to gently build as you integrate small and easy steps and wait for the benefits to kick in.
Over time, the things you once avoided can become things you genuinely enjoy. Instead of feeling like something you ‘should’ do, they become activities you look forward to.
Find the support you need
Sometimes you’ll need help to get started. Working with a holistic health professional is a good way to create and build momentum as well as keep you accountable. Remember, your body is designed to heal, and you are designed to feel well. Know and trust that the better you feel, the easier it will be to continue to make further positive changes.
