How To Hit The Reset Button On Your Life
Jul 14, 2020
One of the best things about being human is that you get a lot of chances to change and improve.
New Year's Day is where we make the first "New Year, New You" resolution. Then comes Chinese New Year in February. If you didn't live up to your resolution, then you have another chance! Next comes Spring when everything is new again. Basically, you don't have to wait until some major holiday or event to decide that you need to change.
Every day is another opportunity to hit the reset button on your life!
Let's face it, no one likes to make mistakes. Our brain is hard wired to avoid failure whenever possible. It just doesn't make us feel good even when we tried our best. It's important to note, you may have unconscious and subconscious sabotages toward reaching your goals. Doing some introspection, journaling, or Neuro-Emotional Technique (N.E.T.) can help you understand what your inner motivations (or sabotages) may be and (spoiler alert) they're likely not logical.
You can hit the reset button on any area of your life. For example, my diet wasn't the best this weekend. I'm really trying to avoid dairy, gluten, sugar, and corn for a while. But, I blew it big time this weekend! I had all the things! Initially yummy, but in retrospect....not so much. So, I'm hitting the reset button when it comes to making healthier choices.
When hitting the reset button, here are a few important things to consider:
1) Why are you hitting the reset button in the first place?
In sales and marketing, trainers always encourage you to find your WHY. It's your WHY that keeps you motivated when your enthusiasm runs out and things get challenging. Write down your WHY and repeat it to yourself daily. Make sure your WHY is framed in a positive way. For example, "I'm choosing different foods to improve my health." vs "I need to change my diet because it's making me fat".
2) It's going to take some discipline.
I can hear the groans from here. Trust me, I'm joining in on it too. Discipline probably isn't going to make anyone's Top 10 list of fun things. However, it's on the Top 10 list of every successful person regardless of their career field. Why? Because discipline gives you the fortitude to keep going when your enthusiasm fades. Consider the process of change as having 3 parts: Beginning, Middle, and End. Your enthusiasm is high in the beginning, but it wanes in the middle. This is where most people quit! So, this is the phase where your discipline is critical to make sure you get to the end!
3) Avoid your triggers
For some people, the word discipline may be a trigger. It sounds scary, like hard work, impossible to achieve, or if you've had a past history of abuse or strict parents then it can cause anxiety or fear. The brain may try to "help you" by steering you away from situations requiring discipline (AKA sabotage). Instead, substitute the word consistency or repetition. Words matter! It's important to resonate with your goal to achieve it.
Another example is to avoid having things around you that are triggers. If I'm trying to avoid certain foods, then the best thing for me to do is not buy them! If they're not around, it's easier for me to make a different choice. Also, I'm less likely to go out and buy it because my house is comfy, I'd have to drive to the store, and take time away from my work just to get something that I'm trying to stay away from! Weigh the Effort vs the Expense and it can help you stick to your goals for change.
4) Trick your brain
The Subconscious (Emotional) brain is highly programmable. This is the brain that tends to label things good vs bad. Based on these definitions, it can cause sabotaging behaviors and feelings of guilt, shame, and failure. When it comes to making changes, healthy substitutions are key. Recently, I was really craving strawberry shortcake. So, I ate it and then felt terrible afterwards both physically (gluten, dairy, sugar and corn) and emotionally. By re-committing to healthy choices, I know that I can have some fresh strawberries with coconut whipped cream or unsweetened dairy free vanilla yogurt with nuts instead. I'll feel so much better in every way afterward. It's about re-programming the brain for what you WANT instead of torturing yourself because of a sabotage. Also, celebrate your changes! You can even repeat positive affirmations like "I'm so happy that I'm eating this amazing strawberry snack! It's giving me so much energy. I feel healthier already!" The Subconscious brain only knows what you tell it! So, re-program it for your desired belief by consistently practicing and repeating that belief!
5) Forgive yourself
If you do experience sabotaging behavior, don't dwell on it! Remember, you can hit the reset button at any time! Every day is an opportunity for a fresh start. Give yourself a pep talk and examine why you made the choice you did. For example, I can't tell you the number of times that I ate the junk food out of the pantry to get rid of it. I didn't have to do that! I could have just thrown it away (Ego sabotage: I can't waste food!) or given it away (Ego sabotage: No one's going to want this open box/half eaten food etc.), but I didn't. Take ownership of the decision you made and re-commit to making a better choice next time. Remember, consistency takes practice! None of us are perfect even though we'd like to be. It's really important to avoid the downward spiral of self-punishment. The Ego says you deserve to be punished for failure, but that's not what your higher self wants! If you made a mistake, practice compassion and double down on your self-love. Reach out for help and support if you need it because there are so many people rooting for you!
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