Discover the key to building better habits and making lasting lifestyle changes. Overcome setbacks and stay dedicated to your health journey.
Eight years ago, at the beginning of my lifting journey, I got serious about my health and paid more attention to my diet. I was all in. But at some point, when the transformation started being noticed by others, I began to slack.
I would skip a day here and there. Then, two days. Until it was no longer a priority and I slipped back into my old ways again. Months later, I would realize how gross I felt and then recommit to getting fit and healthy again—with the added bonus of beating myself up because I allowed the slip in the first place and I had to start all over again. Sound familiar?
I did that many times until finally, I was tired of my own excuses. I experienced the many benefits of regular strength training and eating more whole foods. I felt so good, my energy so high, and my confidence so strong that I knew I needed to make this a lifelong priority.
Despite what life throws at us, we’ll handle it better when feeling our best. Neglecting our need to move and nourish our bodies due to guilt from prioritizing during a season of hardship only worsens the situation.
In order to walk through hard seasons, we must take care of ourselves so we’re at our best.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about living a healthy and enjoyable life, it’s that consistency and habits matter immensely. They not only shape our lives, but they mold us into the people we want to be.
For example, when we prioritize Bible reading in our lives and make a habit of showing up most days, God has the opportunity to transform us, and we will know His voice.
“Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.” -James Clear
Here are four ways building better habits will transform your life
- Being consistent over time leads to significant improvements in your life.
When you walk regularly, you improve your health. When you read the Bible and pray consistently, you grow stronger in your faith. When you avoid toxins in your body, you will heal. But only if you are consistent in those things. - Creating life-giving habits will change how you feel and how you see yourself.
Many of us feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when we follow through regularly on a goal we aim to achieve. It feels good! There’s no denying that. It’s not pride so much as it is fulfilling and peace-giving. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. Do not leave Him out of your habit-making. - A bad habit replaced by a good habit changes how you live
When you replace impulsive eating with intentional eating, you change not only how you think about food but also how food affects your body. This, in turn, affects how your body functions and how it affects your mental health. When you no longer allow food to control you, that changes you. All because you implemented small, intentional habits to break a bad habit by replacing it with a good one. - Changing your habits changes your behavior, and it starts with changing your thinking.
If you tell yourself:
“I’ll never be able to…”
“I can never do…”
“I’m terrible with…”
“I’m hopeless…”
You will believe it. You will live it. You will constantly feel defeated. The mind is a very powerful organ. It can be life-giving or self-destructive because where the mind goes, the body follows.
Start with shifting your mindset and tell yourself:
“I may be able to…”
“I could do…”
“I can get better with…”
“I’m a work in progress.”
Speak life to yourself and believe you can — and you will!!
God doesn’t want us walking around with a defeatist attitude. He wants us to walk in victory and live abundantly.
Building better habits means building a better you—a better life. It’s worth every bit of effort. And if you slip up, don’t give up; get back up. Try again and again until you succeed.
You can do all things through him who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13)
