Often when we start a new program, we tell ourselves it’s going to be THE THING. The lifestyle change we’ve been looking for.
We tell ourselves it’s going to be easy and magical (ok maybe not the magical part).
Heck maybe we’ve even been convinced of this by friends who claim it was soooo easy to do and the BEST thing they’ve ever done.
We can even manage to convince ourselves there won’t be struggles.
But this is exactly the OPPOSITE of what we should be doing.
It’s honestly what often sets us up for failure.
Because if we think or believe that a change should be easy? We’ll only end up super frustrated and overwhelmed when it isn’t.
Which 98% of the time…IT ISN’T!
Something almost always comes up.
And when it does, if we’ve told ourselves things SHOULD be easy?
We’ll feel like there is something wrong with us because it isn’t, especially if we’ve been told it was easy for someone else.
We have to realize instead that there will ALWAYS be set backs and hiccups and mistakes.
And that often when someone is LOOKING BACK and saying it was easy, even they encountered struggles when first starting out.
So instead of trying to convince yourself that the process will be easy, OVERSELL THE NEGATIVE.
That sounds…well…negative but it is the best way to set yourself up for success.
Because if you recognize that the changes WILL be hard…that there WILL be setbacks…that life WILL try to get in the way…
You’ll be ready for it when it happens.
And being prepared makes it so much easier to embrace the hard.
The more we even slightly “oversell” the negative, the more we can make the hard times even feel…well…easy because they aren’t as bad as we expected.
So as you’re starting to make changes in this program, don’t try to gloss over the challenges that will arise.
Instead prepare yourself for them admitting there will be struggles.
Oversell that negative to prepare yourself!
Take some time right now to think of a few problems you could see popping up…
If you aren’t sure of what may be the hold up or hiccup, consider what has caused you to fall off of programs in the past.
Will life try to get in the way? Will you get so busy you can’t stay consistent with your workouts?
Will you struggle to track? Will it be hard to stop snacking?
What struggles have derailed you before so you can recognize they may pop up again to try to hold you back?!
Here are 4 big points to consider and make notes on…
What’s been the biggest challenge for you in the past when it comes to being consistent with a program?
What’s been the biggest workout struggle for you? consistency or making time for it?
What’s been the biggest struggle for you in terms of adjusting your nutrition? Have you struggled to track?
What makes you the most nervous about this program? What do you think will be the hardest part?
SUMMARY:
Plan for the worst! It will help you better handle hiccups and issues when they arise.
