No one wakes ups and declares that they want to start eating healthy. What we want are all of the benefits that go along with eating healthy. So why is it so hard to change the way we eat? I work with people that have battled cancer, are now in remission and looking to take ownership of their health. You would think a cancer diagnosis would be all the motivation needed to make positive dietary and lifestyle changes, but it isn’t always easy. Even the most motivated can experience overwhelm and resistance when it comes to change.

The reality is, we’re so busy with all of life’s obligations that it’s easier to stay on autopilot rather than deal with the planning and effort that goes along with making any worthwhile change. So how do move through overwhelm and resistance?

Let’s say you’re feeling exhausted all of the time and would really love to drop a few pounds. Your most recent checkup reveled that your borderline hypertensive and your cholesterol is off the chart. Your diet has been filled with premade processed foods and you know it’s time to make some serious changes. You decide a good place to start is with adding organic fresh foods to your diet but you haven’t exercised in months and it would be a really good idea to join a gym and get into a regular workout routine. Oh, and the job stress really needs to be addressed too. Food, exercise, and stress management all seem too much to tackle at once! Can anyone say overwhelmed?!

The key is to start with one meaningful step that you take consistently each day until it becomes a new habit and part of your routine. Let’s say you want to address your diet first, you can begin by adding 1 cup of fruit to your breakfast and 2 cups of vegetables to your lunch and dinner each day and access how you feel at the end of one month.

If you notice, I didn’t suggest that you give up or cut back on any particular food. Your focus is on adding in, not giving up., although, you may find yourself filling up on the good stuff and not having the desire or appetite for the not so good stuff.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new.” – Socrates

Creating lasting change requires S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely) goal setting. Adding in fruits and vegetables meets the S.M.A.R.T. criteria. It may take time for you to figure out if you prefer your morning fruit alone, with nuts, added to oatmeal or in a smoothie and it may take some experimenting to see if you prefer your vegetables raw, steamed or roasted. Be patient with yourself, take consistent action and focus on progress, not perfection.

Darren Hardy, author of The Compound Effect recommends the following formula to achieve success: Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = Radical Difference. The compound effect is “the principal of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices”. Once you’ve mastered the first step, you’ll be ready to apply this winning formula to the next one! You can apply this formula to business, relationships and any other area of your life. Begin today and enjoy the journey along the way.

To learn more, visit Suzanne’s website vibrantlifeaftercancer.com by clicking here.