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I am a big believer in keeping things simple. I don’t like a lot of stuff cluttering up my space. When it comes to behavior change, though, simple rarely works. While it may be easier to begin a diet and fitness program fast and furiously, in the long run it will not work. If that were the case, we would all be living a healthy and active life.
With health behavior change, attention to the underlying “stuff” is called for. So often the impetuous to change skims the surface thereby cheating us out of a chance to grow in understanding of ourselves. Finding a connection to a bigger picture helps withstand the rough patches in the behavior change process. According to Wellcoaches®, this connection to a bigger picture of who you are is a vital part for health behavior change. So how can we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves when trying to live a more active life? Here are 7 questions to ask:
- Who do I want to be?
- What results do I want to achieve?
- What activities do I want to do consistently?
- Why does this matter to me right now?
- What strengths, talents and abilities will I draw upon?
- What challenges will I overcome?
- What support team and structures will I put in place?
These questions help generate new possibilities by staying positive and appreciating strengths – both powerful tools in gaining a deeper understanding and resolve to change behavior.
So what is in your bigger picture?