This is Your Permission to Stop Dieting

It is such a common notion that if you see a fit person then you assume they are some kind of fitness fanatic who basically lives in the gym eating kale and protein. We see them and we say, “that is not the life for me, I want to be happy and that life doesn’t make me happy.” Unknowingly, this is an impressive feat done in our subconscious by our brain in an effort to protect us. We are wired for safety. We are wired to seek comfort. It’s a survival skill.

Humans are creatures of habit, this is safety and comfort. The moment we do something different is when the opportunity for growth is open to us. To see growth we have to do something different, but to avoid our brain working against us, the trick is to do that “different thing” over and over until it is comfortable, familiar, and habitual.

I am a huge fan of micro-change. Massive cleanses, or complete diet overhauls feel fun at the start when you’re motivated but tough to sustain once the inspiration wears off. Micro-changes bring grace that keeps me in control dictating what I want in that moment for or against a goal and allows me to keep living with minimal disruption. There are of course times when that switch flips and I make bigger changes, but usually only after I have laid a foundation and adapted to previous micro-changes.

IFBB Pro, Lynn Centino, a 23-year fitness veteran with a background in psychology and psychopathology shares, “People are fascinating creatures. We want what we want as fast as possible. It must be overnight or surely it’s not working.” Centino adds, “In our world today we’ve learned that faster is better and we’ve forgotten the foundations of success. Chipping away, one moment at a time, one step at a time, one breath at a time.”

Switch gears with me to your finances. You have some idea of what you want and maybe even an idea of things you want to change. Have you started? If not, it may be because the plan you have in mind of what you need to do is insurmountable, too complicated, or will require too much energy. This is your sign that you need to build a new foundation of micro-changes.

Come on, you’ve heard the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” give yourself the grace and bestowed patience that goals require time. As Billy Joel said, “slow down, you‘re doin’ fine.”

When you’re doing an exercise set of a high number of repetitions (not for time), you don’t knock out all 100 reps without pausing. The goal is 100 reps. So you chip away, maybe do 30, then two 20’s, then 10 or 3 until you finally get them all in. This is like your big financial goals. I’m talking house, savings goals, vacation, paying a debt, etc. It is so easy to get overwhelmed that a $5 savings won’t make a difference, which is why many people cannot even get started. The amount needed to save feels too insurmountable, so we chalk it off to “I can’t afford to save right now” or move to blame, “if my boss would pay me more…” Yet having more money, does not make you suddenly good with money. People with less money have to be more resourceful whereas some with more money are not conscientious because the bounty of enough hides the need for skill. When money is tight, that can be the most invigorating time to learn or sharpen money skills. I know, I’ve been there.

“Success is all of these tiny things that take us to our bigger goals”
— Lynn Centino

Decide and visualize what you want. Test your dream or goal — think about who you are with or where you live or what you are doing. Deeply visualizing will help you realize that perhaps what you thought you wanted does not quite feel right. Here is what not to do…don’t have some “finance expert” tell you what your goals are. Your goals are your goals. A wise finance expert will help you achieve your goals, by directing your efforts or offering insights to consider. Keep in mind that a map to financial freedom does not have to be an extensive 10-year plan, it may just be getting you through the next 6 months. Your plan can and will evolve. Once you have your current version of a plan, start chipping away. Change your 401k from 0% to 5%. When your micro-changes feel normal, comfortable, and easy, then you’ll have the space and energy to put fire to the wind and before you know it you’re a total finance badass.