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Small Change Makes A Big Difference | Habit Change

Small Change Makes A Big Difference | Habit Change

I get it. Are you trying to make a habit change and keep failing? Do you ask why it is so hard to start a habit? I have been there and done that myself. Let's talk about what you can do to make those new habits stick. Have you found yourself in this habit loop? You have some new HUGE habit change that you want to create in your life; it’s not a small change. As a matter of fact, it will require you to start a good habit; however, you keep failing no matter how many tricks you try. You get on the habit train, and then shortly after that, you get off. What is a life-changing new habit that you want to create to transform your life? It’s so dang frustrating each time you start so good, but it ends the same way, with you struggling to follow through to make a big difference in your life. When you set out to change your life, you typically feel that you’ll need to make big changes to see significant results. What if, instead, you start with a tiny, simple change that you can begin and then simply add onto to make a big difference. So what is one big change you'd like to see in your life?

What is one big habit change?

What is it? Undoubtedly, you’ve been wondering how to start a new habit. What is one simple step? If you do that consistently, you will begin to feel a big wave of change start.

What's one possible daily change you can make that will compound into a huge life change over time. To begin with, think small; what's one little thing that you can do to start moving forward to create a new habit. So here's a perfect example that I'd love to share with you today.

How Small Change Makes A Big Difference

In addition to being a private coach, I am also an operations manager for small online businesses. Recently, during our annual employee reviews, each employee set a personal goal that they wanted to achieve in the upcoming year for themselves and a company goal we set jointly.

We want to help support them personally and professionally to achieve their goals. One of the employees set this big, huge goal to quit smoking. Wow, that's a big life-change goal.

Oh, how life-changing and difficult it is to quit smoking. This advice came from another manager who happens to be a former smoker.

Fantastic advice on how to start a new healthy habit

He said he actually quit smoking because he stopped having a cigarette 15 minutes earlier every day. Wow. Is that not just one tiny, small thing you could do daily to change a habit?

Every day he would just have his last cigarette 15 minutes earlier. On the first night, he had a cigarette 15 minutes earlier than the day before.

Do you see how one small change makes a big difference? It all began with the decision to start small.

Above is the perfect example of a simple step to create a new habit. When you find a small doable change in new habits, it will be easy to stick to making massive life-changing results.

With this in mind, can you think of how to start a good habit for yourself?

Instead of all or nothing, how can you apply the 15-minute principle to make a big difference?

Michele Duwe from Miss Task | Small Change Makes A Big Difference | Habit Change

Start A Healthy Habit

Do you drink a lot of soda and would like to replace that with a healthy habit of drinking water? A simple step to start a new healthy habit of drinking water instead of soda would be to decrease your ounces per day of soda while increasing the ounces per day of water. This is easy and doable. One ounce at a time until you have swapped completely. Again a perfect example of one small doable change that you can make that leads to huge results.

Here are a few other examples that I could think of off the top of my head.

Have you wanted to start a yoga practice and give up after a short time? Why not start with one pose a day? Maybe you begin with just doing one down dog a day; after a week, you add on child pose. I’ve Googled for you already the best yoga poses for beginners. Here are the five best poses.

What to mediate? Start with a couple of minutes, 30 seconds, possibly a minute; just start small and add on as you truly get into it a little bit more, cuz who says that it has to be all or nothing.

One last example is to create a one-step unwind routine if you need to get more sleep. The routine could be taking a bath or reading a book for fifteen minutes. Plan your day backward from your bedtime and create space for your unwind routine. By planning backward, you make sure that you have time to get everything done that you want to get done before you unwind and go to bed.

Again, we're not looking for some pie-in-the-sky change; pick one small doable change and just stick with it, stick with that one thing.

Start with those small, doable changes that make it easier and easier to form that new habit over time.

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Little Side Note

Atomic Habits by James Clear is a must-read if you struggle with forming good habits. Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results Here is a link

How will you start a good habit?

Let me ask again, is there one area in your life where you can use this exact same technique by starting with one small action that will compound and compound over time?

And the best part is committing to a small change will feel much easier for your brain. This is how you start a new habit and make it easy. What you want to do is make the plan so easy. It should feel simple. The simple solutions are the ones we tend to overlook.

We want your thoughts to be. That's easy. Oh my gosh. That's so easy. That's so simple. Yeah. I can totally do that. You want to get your brain on board that you are 100% bought into this new habit. When your mind starts to take you down the same old path, tell yourself this plan feels simple enough; it is easy for me. Before you know it, your new habit will be who you are because your small change became a routine that turned into a healthy habit. Then it's just second nature, and it's just who you are.

You also prove to yourself; you prove to own self that you are a person that follows through on what you say you’ll do. You’ll believe you’re able to accomplish hard things, that you're able to make a commitment and follow through on that commitment.

If you’re the person who often puts other people ahead of what you said you’d do for yourself. Well, you know what, just do it for yourself. I give you permission to put yourself first once in a while when it comes to taking a small action to create big habits and changes in your life. You’re the only one that can commit to the change.

Change starts small. And I promise it will compound over time. You may find yourself adding more little things to that one small change. It will have a ripple effect to change so many other things in your life. So friend, if you want that ripple effect in your life, I invite you to apply for my private coaching.

The button to apply and work with me is down below. After applying, you’ll be sent an email to schedule a call to discuss the small changes that make a big difference in your life.

Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate you, and have a wonderful week.

Private Coaching

Why do I believe in the power of private coaching?

Because it is truly life-changing. When your coach asks you that mind-blowing question that suddenly allows you to see what you've been missing all along that was literally right in front of your face.

You just need someone with a different perspective to help you see it.

Are you ready to experience life from a different perspective?

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How Do You Feel Happier?

How Do You Feel Happier?

It’s funny how we can so easily tell ourselves that I’ll go after my dreams when I'm more confident. Do you think that maybe believing in yourself and thinking positive thoughts will help you feel happier and even influence your life positively? But here’s another factor you might not have considered, what if it had more to do with your mind. 

Did you know that developing focus, creativity, and sharpness will help you feel happier and even more blessed in your life?

Those who are more positive and happy tend to notice opportunities more because they are less stressed. And by the same token, you could see even more opportunities because if you’re expecting positive results, your mind will begin to look for positive results to prove you right.

When you overload your minds with negative thoughts, the outcome could leave you feeling groggy and easily distracted. It will feel difficult or impossible to exert the necessary discipline to change your thinking and life. 

So how do you boost your mind to feel happier and even more blessed in your life? 

I’m a big believer that your thoughts create your life. Another critical point is taking care of your mind with sleep, meditation, and proper nutrition. As soon as I begin not to make these things a priority in my life, it creates a ripple effect. 

This bit of self-care allows you to show up as a happier person. At the same time, you feel more focused. You feel more present and patient with yourself and all the beautiful blessings you have in your life.

What does all of this have to do with believing in yourself and thinking positive thoughts? 

I know what you’re thinking; how does any of this have to do with going after your dreams, having more confidence, believing in yourself, and thinking positive thoughts? 

Our minds are so mighty; if you truly accept and believe that your thoughts create everything in your life, you’ll begin to see that you have the power to create your happiness. 

You hold power to look for the positive, even in the negative. 

Michele OBM and Life Coach from Miss Task How Do You Feel Happier?

Life is filled with lessons

Why do you find yourself in similar situations? It may be because you have more to learn from that lesson. What else do you need to get from the teachings you haven’t gotten? 

I’ve had plenty of aha moments when I’ve realized that I’ve had similar situations show up in my life really close together. I’m like, ahh, guess I didn’t get it the first time. 

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Little Side Note

Where do you need to work on your mindset to feel happier in your life? I’d love to know what thoughts you’re working on! Share in the comments below or send me a DM on Instagram

Sometimes you just have to make the decision

Don’t you wish that life had an easy button sometimes? I’ve found that life can feel easy and happier when I decide to be happy and look for the blessing even when I think it is hidden under a bunch of crap. 

People who decide that they want to love life no matter what life lessons come their way are happier, more focused, and think positive thoughts.

If your life feels like a complete mess and you’re living your days in frustration, I got you! Together in six months in my private coaching, you’ll achieve the joy and peace you want more than anything right now.

Private Coaching

Why do I believe in the power of private coaching?

Because it is truly life-changing. When your coach asks you that mind-blowing question that suddenly allows you to see what you've been missing all along that was literally right in front of your face.

You just need someone with a different perspective to help you see it.

Are you ready to experience life from a different perspective?

Find Balance Digital Download
How can you be happy right now?

How can you be happy right now?

When was the last time that you slowed down enough to appreciate your life and be happy right now with what you have at the present moment? 

Let me ask, with the constant go, go, go of everyday life do you pause to enjoy what you’ve accomplished? Do you think that you should have things right now, and you don't necessarily wanna go through all the steps that you need to get there? Have you stopped to think about how that affects your happiness? 

Do you find yourself chasing happiness? How often do you find yourself putting your happiness out into the future? When you have ABC or XYZ then you’ll be happy. Or when you do that thing, you’ll be happy. 

The problem is that may not necessarily be true because if you're not happy right now with yourself, how will that change? Think back to a time in your past, I’m only guessing that you’ve had that exact thought about something else. When you got that “thing” how long did your happiness last until you became discontent with your life again? 

Friend, I’m not throwing any stone here. I get it. In the past, I too was a discontent person. Instead of appreciating my life and all my blessings, I was on the hamster wheel chasing happiness. It wasn’t until I realized that my thoughts and feeling drove my actions that created my results. 

Do you believe that it is possible to be happy right now? 

What are you saying to yourself that makes you believe you're not happy right now? Do you watch the words that you say to yourself? Are you hiding a mean girl inside that doesn’t want you to be happy right now? 

 

Hey, I have a mean girl that likes to play small. These days I keep her under control with the reminder that what she's doing is enough or that she is happy with herself right now. I finally understood that she can spiral out of control pretty quickly without self-nurturing. 

Are you able to relate to me on this? I'm guessing you do if you’re searching the topic of how can you be happy right now.  

Believe it or not, you have the power to control your thoughts. 

I can almost hear you thinking, nope no way I have the power to control my thoughts. That may be true of the first thought and you can always control your second thought. 

Now, this is important you really do need to manage your feelings. You need to manage the thoughts that you have about yourselves. 

Because that in turn is going to lead us down a path of being happier. How do I know? Because I was that person. 

Let me tell you that's where I started. That's why I’m so passionate that everyone needs life coaching, if that’s me great, if not find that life coach that you feel drawn to. 

You see, I was telling myself that I didn’t need a life coach. When I took the leap to hire my first life coach, she was able to help me down the path. She walked right alongside me asking all the right questions, allowing me to see how my thoughts were and what was causing my discontentment, my unhappiness with myself, my progress, and overall life. 

Looking back now, the solution was simple I was not understanding that my thoughts were making me unhappy with myself and my life in general. Here’s the big secret it’s difficult to actually read the label when you're stuck inside the bottle.

 

Are you stuck in the bottle? 

Don’t you wish that you got it all the time? I know I don't get it all the time. Do you have those negative feelings that are in there that you are trying to manage on your own? 

Well, you need to actually take a look at why you have those negative feelings. Why are your negative feeling and thought coming up inside you, what is the cause? What is actually causing those feelings to lead you to not be happy with who you are and what you have right now in this present moment? 

Are you busy looking over there? 

Are you a goal setter? I know, I sure like to set goals. But, there’s a catch when you set the goal you need to release the attachment to the outcome. If you hold on to the attachment of the outcome you’ll be busy looking over there for your happiness. 

You know what I mean right. I'm gonna be happy when I get to that goal or I'm gonna be happy when I make this impact on this many people.

But truly,  is that what's gonna make you happy? Always looking over there? Nope, looking over there for your happiness will lead you to feel unhappiness in the present moment. 

Despite your thought that you’ll be happy when you’ve reached your goal, likely when you get to whatever your goal is, you’ll gonna be looking too far ahead to what your next goal should be.

Always busy looking over there, rather than stepping back and really looking at all you have right now to be happy about.

Celebrate your now

Guess what Friend when you celebrate your now it will bring you happiness.  The now is the only place where you can be happy. The past is behind you and the future hasn’t happened yet. Leaving only one place for you to find your true happiness.

You see my point right? Be happy with your now. Celebrate now.

As much as you think you need to be someplace else, be present. Be happy with the fact that you actually are putting in the time and effort, and savor the progress.

You have to fall in love with progress because you're doing the work for yourself. Nobody else can do it for you.

You have the magic pill to happiness

You have to want to create your own happiness, you have the power to step back and decide. ‘I'm happy right now. I'm happy right now at this moment.’

Regardless, nobody else can do that for you. Nobody else outside of you is going to have some magic pill to make you be happy with yourself and happy in your present moment with your life.

Derails Your Thoughts and Feeling

Prior to my deep dive into my thoughts and feeling, I allowed the little things to derail me. It comes down to figuring out what triggers you. In other words, you might be happy one moment then all of a sudden you're completely bonkers and very dissatisfied with everything going on. What happened? Do you know what triggers you have?

What happened before you went completely bonkers? Pause at that moment and begin to think about well, when this happened, I reacted like this.

Well, that's a trigger for you.

Michele Duwe from Miss Task How can you be happy right now blog post

Here’s a trigger for me

Oh friend, let me give you my real-life example of one of my triggers. It has to do with my husband. When we're in the car, he will start chewing a piece of gum. While he thinks it's super cool to snap his gum really loud, like extremely loud I’m not having the same thought of “oh that’s so cool that you can snap your gum extremely loud.” Anyone who knows my husband knows that he is super competitive, to him, he is passing the time by competing with himself to see if he can snap his gum louder and louder. 

For some reason the louder he snaps the more it triggers me. Something about that noise triggers me and I usually go off the wall, until recently, now I pause before I go off the wall. 

I turn inwards to examine my thoughts. Questioning why something so fun to him derails my peace. I'm aware of my feelings, my thoughts, and my beliefs, when I feel myself going a little bit crazy, instead of being irritated with him, I'm taking a step back and ask why does this trigger me?

 

It is pretty silly, that I let something that he likes to do and he thinks is cool, steal my peace of mind. Not everybody thinks the same things are cool in life. Am I right with that?

What steals your peace of mind? 

Are you able to think of something that triggers you? Whatever it is, next time you feel yourself going a little crazy step back and look at what’s triggering you. What do you allow to cause you to not be happy right now with yourself and not be happy in the present moment? 

Are you able to think of an example? What are those things for you? Despite your best efforts what makes you not want to be happy? How could you better manage those feelings around it? Are you paying attention? 

Journaling is thought discovery

Are you one that will journal? If you have the opportunity to journal, when you're in the present moment of being triggered, truthfully take a look at what you're thinking, what are the feelings that you have behind it?

 

Where do you feel that in your body? Because those are great things to have awareness of. 

When you become aware, then you can make changes. Because you know what's happening in your mind and in your body that makes you unhappy. At this instant, you’re able to take that learning and use it to be happy with yourself.

You can be happy with your life, because really, in the end, don't you want to have a happy, fun life? I don't know about you, but that feels good to me. 

I'm curious, tell me in the comments below, what are the things that you either find triggering or what are the things that bring you joy in life?

 

In order to be happy right now

How can you be happy right now? In order to be happy you need to discover what are the things that make you feel happy. Have you actually sat down to figure out what it is that makes you truly happy so that, you know, when you're there, or maybe you're just passing over all those little moments in your life that actually bring you joy and happiness because you're too much in a hurry to not pay attention to the little things? Why not slow down, honestly look at the things that, you know, bring you happiness, and do a little bit more of those. 

Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate you. I hope you have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you next week. Oh by the way, if you're needing that private coach in your corner to help you see all the little joyful things and reach those goals, I would love to work with you. The link to my private coaching application is down below.

Private Coaching

Why do I believe in the power of private coaching?

Because it is truly life-changing. When your coach asks you that mind-blowing question that suddenly allows you to see what you've been missing all along that was literally right in front of your face.

You just need someone with a different perspective to help you see it.

Are you ready to experience life from a different perspective?

Find Balance Digital Download