Five Life Lessons: #3 - Change is Hard, but Necessary
Michael C. Roubicek, PhD, LCSW - aka ‘Dr. Mike’ - has been a psychotherapist since 1983. In this series, he shares five lessons he’s learned about life in over 20 years of working with Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery patients.
Read previous: Lesson #2 - Remembering Why We Got Started
Lesson #3 - Change is Hard, but Necessary.
It is ESSENTIAL; and worth it. But it is also stressful.
I have been a cyclist over the years and once while reading a cycling magazine I came across an article that had significant impact. There was an image from that article that I have used many times with people. The content addressed the impact of stress on: the brain, the heart, the muscles, the autonomic nervous system and the gut. It delineated the many ways stress impacts us. Too much stress can have significant negative effects on us mentally and physically. That has underscored the importance of taking things one step at a time and not forcing change to happen too quickly or dramatically.
A colleague and longtime associate coined the phrase “Just One Thing” which was designed to help slow down the process. The goal is to start by doing just one thing today to move down the path of change. If we manage the change, we can keep the stress in check. And by taking things one at a time, we see ourselves accomplishing things and reaching our goals. This cultivates a confidence within ourselves that enables us to move through the process of change successfully.
Next: Lesson #4 - Balance is Key
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