Do you remember the first time you decided to make a change in your life?  Maybe it was to lose weight or maybe it was to go after your dreams and passion.  When you first made the decision to change, you felt excited and motivated.  The inspiration you felt was unmatched and you felt as though you could take on the world!  After maybe a few weeks, your excitement died down.  Maybe it’s because your plan didn’t go exactly as expected or life got in the way and you found yourself distracted.  Eventually, you may have found yourself completely neglecting your goal altogether.

This is an all to common scenario that many people have found themselves stuck in.  As a health coach, I found myself baffled by the number of people who would come into my office ready to make a change only to see them fall off the map a few weeks later.  On the other hand, I also met with clients that were determined to succeed and they never gave up despite their hardships.  Over time, I began to notice four key elements that helped people stay on track and create lasting transformation.

• Remember Your Why: Something I have noticed while working with people is that when they first start off on their new journey, they are filled with excitement and drive! After a few weeks, they begin to feel better and they eventually stop taking care of themselves.  Before long, they are have completely reverted back to their old ways.  The key to lasting change is to remember your WHY.  Your why is going to be your reason for wanting to become healthy.  For some, their WHY is to be healthy enough to walk their daughter down the aisle or to live long enough to see their grand children.  For others, it’s to accomplish their dream of running a marathon or to be disease-free.  Whatever your Why is, I encourage you to write it out and put it in a place where you will be reminded of it daily!  Having a goal in mind is crucial when it comes to making lasting change.
• Find Your Identity: I am a firm believer that once we come to realize who we are in God, there is no turning back! The easiest way to discover who God sees you to be is to simply spend time with Him. Set aside time everyday to be in His presence whether it’s through prayer, spending time in the word, journaling, or soaking.  Ask Him to reveal to you how he sees you!  Don’t forget to journal the beauty that you discover.
• Don’t Compromise: I see so many men and woman across the globe do this.   We live in a society where we are encouraged to be people-pleasers and there are even books written about how to win people over!  While I do believe in loving all people, I do not believe in compromising who you are for the sake of approval!  This is extremely detrimental when it comes to personal growth. When we compromise, it disconnects us from our own hearts, which only leads to us feeling powerless, defeated, and unworthy.  I encourage you to stand strong with your convictions and don’t compromise for the sake of simply winning approval from others.
• Love Yourself Enough To Keep Going: Here’s the thing: you can’t change what you don’t love. You have to love yourself in order to create lasting change.  Otherwise, what’s the point?  Be willing to go on the journey to fall in love with yourself.  Remember, developing love is also a process and it rarely happens overnight.  Become your own best friend and I can promise you that your life will begin to transform.

 Transformation doesn’t come easy.  If it did, everyone would do it!  It takes time, discipline, and determination.  However, with just a few mindset adjustments, it is more than possible for everyone.

dreams are, but don’t let that hold you back from living a victorious life!  You were born a champion, now it’s time to act like it.