Don't Waste Energy Changing A Habit - Create New Habit Instead - Part 2

My  habit that I have changed after many years is no longer a habit.  It has been 57 days.  I realise that going through this journey has been enlightening, particularly because I was aware of the consequences and paying attention to feel what if feels like to understand what a client may experience.

Simply trying to replace the habit with new stuff did not work for me.   It definitely helped and I am making a pair of trousers for the first time ever, ever and decluttering, truly in 15 min chunks, the time often extends to more and I am feeling pretty good about that.   

I have needed to create some lifestyle changes to develop a new way of living so that I was not drawn so easily in choosing something that no longer served me.    What I also noticed was that my senses are much more heightened and my feelings and emotions are more evident, sometimes a little raw.  Sooooo easy to not want to feel them.  I am journalling, which I was doing, back at yoga.  I was doing 10 mins meditation 3 times a week.  Now tried 20 mins.  It is amazing when I add my values just how I can find the time, versus hours watching TV, on face book (now have a timer 15 mins) and surf the net. 

I had not expected to write quite like this in part 2 but having continued on this journey it reminds how I used this habit initially perhaps and it was a crutch for a while and I have so not needed it for many years and well it was just a habit and an easy one, fun too at times.

I would have to say that one of the major aspect that has assisted me is having compassion for myself and knowing that I am trying to do my best and reminding  myself why this means so much to me and I think this has been the secret.

I did a drawing and used this throughout as a motivator and it worked. 

I asked myself if I did not do this for myself how would I feel about it.  I was so surprised that this appeared and found it pretty upsetting, which I am grateful for.  I could not believe I was choosing a habit, a quick fix that would break my heart and I would regret not truly giving it ago and finding out what I am capable of with out it.

It still grabs me the impact of what I was doing to myself.  I so deserved to feel better about myself. 

This was the first drawing I did.  The theme was wellbeing, you can see it just on the bottom left hand corner.  My question was how would I feel if I did not have this habit and was  more in wellbeing.  You can imagine how that felt and the realisation of this is what it would mean to me and then I did the Sea of Sorrow one, which is underneath.  I made it into a card that sits in my office as a concstant reminder.   

When I see the contrast, it seems crazy not to choose the better option but we are human beings and sometimes we do not always appreciate how we really feel or the impact of what we are doing to ourselves, because on the whole life can feel pretty good, maybe not.  It can always feel better, for me it is about going within, living life from the inside out.

The images are really about my values.  I really looked at what mattered to me, who do I want to be.  Am I really living in integrity for what it means to me,  not anyone else's value.  This was key to get me through.  I have to say I found the first week a challenge but had the energy of something new, the second week was 'hellish' for sure, the third week was a challenge, the fourth easier.  No complacency though.

I used all the tricks of my trade, coaching, creativity in every sense.  Announced what I was doing to a couple of friends.  One who actually decided that she wanted to change a habit and I asked if I could support her and wow.  The drawing was done about 3 weeks before this and I had wished/thought how much I would love it if someone was on a similar journy.  Truly then 3 weeks later a friend did not know I was going through this said what she did, the rest is history and she is doing really well also.  

As a result of this I am feeling amazing, feel SO proud of myself, have lots of little rituals that I do that bring me so much joy and pleasure.  I feel healthier, have much more clarity, not only that I am now open to much more in my life and coaching practice.  I guess the decluttering may be part of that.  Actually as a result of writing this blog.  I am going to create a 4 week coaching package to support others with creating the life they want and starting with challenging one habit to replace with so much more, has to be through small fun steps.  Not sure what I will call it but I am going to do this.  Wahoo.  What a gift and so many reasons why it is worth it.

You need to know it is not easy, but I promise you within 4 weeks you will have explored creatively what matters, have someone right there with you the whole time, learn more about you, your values and strengths because you will have so many strengths that you are perhaps not aware of, not only that how in wellbeing are you going to feel? 

So if anyone whats to Create New Habits, just let me know.