Thoughts on the Power of Gradual and Habit Change
Some time ago, Leo Babauta of Zen Habits was kind enough to host a post of mine. I wrote about the Power of Gradual. Thanks to Leo's rather large readership I received a lot of comments on my post. I...
View ArticleHow Long?
Every once in a while someone emails me and asks something like, "I sit on the couch too much. I'm trying to be more active. How many days will it take before my new exercise routine becomes a habit?...
View ArticleLose Weight by Eating Better and Exercising More Often
Years ago, in the early days of the Internet, a top-ten list of self-help books that would never sell was circulating. The top entry?Lose Weight by Eating Less and Exercising MoreIt's funny because...
View ArticleWe Are Social Creatures: The Power of Others to Support Our Habits
We are social creatures. Almost all of us desire the company of others on a regular basis. And others, we hope, desire ours. We (mostly) enjoy the company we keep and we tend to see the same lovely...
View ArticleThe Appeal, and Danger, of Wishful Thinking
We've all been accused of it. I'm a Toronto Blue Jays fan, so I'm accused of it on a regular basis: "Ah, that's just wishful thinking." Still, I hold out hope that one day the pennant will again be...
View ArticleSocial Inclusion and Habit Change: Being Included is Essential!
Recently, I wrote about the fact that we are social creatures. The implications for habit maintenance and habit change are far-reaching. I did not stop to consider, though, why it is that we are social...
View ArticleWhat Went Right?
At one time or another, any self-help author worth his or her weight in pulp is going to advise readers to analyze "what went wrong." In other words, how did you get yourself into whatever predicament...
View ArticleHow to be a "Stranger" to Yourself and Still Live Long and Prosper
I just read Tim Wilson's fascinating book, Strangers to Ourselves: Discovering the Adaptive Unconscious. It's a succinct synopsis of a lot of scientific research, and that research speaks loud and...
View ArticleWhen Should I Stop Trying? Some Tips
Popular culture has at least one strong message for everyone engaged in self-change:Don't Stop! Don't Give Up!When you meet with adversity, there is only one solution (apparently): Just keep on...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? A New and Better Approach to Effective and Lasting Habit Change
There is no secret that will give you instant success. There is no magic pill that will transform you over night. There is no mantra that can cure you of your ills. You know that. Ultimately, there's...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? You Changed a Habit!
In my last post, I introduced you to an exciting new idea: You can succeed at self-change this time because you succeeded before.You need a bit of help this time. That's why you're reading this...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? You Focused on One Habit!
Occasionally I meet someone who did a 'total personal makeover.' In the space of a few weeks or months, they: 1) started exercising; 2) ate better; 3) read more books; 4) learned a new hobby . . .read...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? You Picked the Right Habit!
You've decided to change yourself. You're focusing on what went right last time you changed yourself. You've decided to focus on a habit, and now you know that you need to focus on one habit only.Time...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? You Had a Great Plan!
Believe it or not, you've come a long way. I know, I know. You haven't actually done anything yet, in the sense that your behavior hasn't changed yet. But, that's okay. You've done a lot of important...
View ArticleHow to Get the Most Out of the 'What Went Right?' Posts
The 'what went right' approach is based on one simple truth: You succeeded at self-change before, so you can succeed again. This truth is a self-affirming truth. It affirms that you have the power to...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? You Made Mini-Plans!
Now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty. You've come a long way. You read my earlier posts, this last one being extremely important, and you have a plan. Good for you!But it's not enough.You need...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? You Kept Going!
In this second-to-last of the what-went-right posts, I say the incredibly obvious.But it must be said.The last time you established a great new habit, you did it through a lot of repetition. How much...
View ArticleWhat Went Right? You Escaped the Backslide!
You're working on self-change. Feeling good. Getting a new habit. And then it happens. Something interferes with your new routine. After all, life happens. Someone gets sick, something breaks, you go...
View ArticleTime to Shake Things Up! The Importance of Stepping OUT of Routine
This blog is about habits. I have sung the praises of good habits and I will continue to do so.But, here's the thing. Sometimes, and just sometimes mind you, it's important to step out of your routine....
View ArticleUnsubscribe, Unsubscribe, Unsubscribe! Get Control of Your Email and Increase...
Here's a little exercise for you. For the next week or so, put all of your "authorized spam" (junk email really) in a mail folder. Put all of the hotel discount emails, car rental deal emails, web...
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