If your life is out of balance, where do you start to figure it out? How do to put it back in flow? It is often very overwhelming to think about the intricacies and the interdependence of all aspects of our lives. It feels paralyzing to decide where to start.
One thing I learnt from all dieting and ‘regular exercising’ attempts is that I needed to start slowly and introduce changes in smaller doses as I adjust. I needed to give myself enough time to adapt to change, embrace it, make it a part of my life (reach homeostasis) and then take another step. It is impossible to change the course of a large ship instantly. Small adjustments, getting comfortable and more importantly; seeing results and building on accomplishments are crucial steps. I needed to start my ‘snowball effect’ of confidence building.
It is not different when it comes to projects we have in mind such as eating healthier, developing a hobby, getting a new job, meditating, exercising, you name it.
Introduce one small change at a time. Focus your energies on sticking with that one small change. Observe the positive results you are seeing and congratulate yourself. Once the ‘change’ is internalized and is a part of your life, it turns into a habit, and when your body and mind are ready, introduce the next change. Restart the cycle and let the positive spiral lift you. Listen to your feelings and observe your experience closely. You can accelerate or decelerate the growth based on what is joyful for you.
The positive spiral I am talking about is not one-dimensional. What you accomplish in the first project you pick will elevate your overall confidence. It will help you work on any other projects you pick. Once the positive spiral lifts you, you are working on a different level. You have more confidence, which helps you accomplish more, introduce more changes at your pace and more beautifully, make you even more confident.
Start small, observe and celebrate small gains. It is an impressive process that feeds on itself and only gets better and more joyful.