Create the Life You Want - How to Inspire Lasting Personal Change

"Fake it 'til you make it!" they say, but where's• What can I do right now to make that
the long-term value in that approach? If we spendchange reality - even if only for this moment? [Ex.
energy just faking progress, how will we evereat the healthy lunch option, take the stairs up to
actually arrive at our destination? It sounds muchthe second floor instead of the elevator, focus on
like the experience of people who sit in simulatedthe great opportunities in a tough situation]
race car drivers' seats. After exhilarating,• How can I make that same good decision
high-intensity video game simulations, they findfrom moment to moment so as to string the
that they're a dollar short and no further frommoments together until they become permanent
where they were when they began.components of my lifestyle?
Furthermore, isn't substantial positive change inOnce we answer these questions for ourselves,
quality of one's life worth more than faking? Isn'twe'll be wise to combine them with proven
it worth the effort to actually do something toprinciples from people who have already been
bring desired change into being now, even if onlywhere we want to go:
for a moment initially? It will become more• Decisions become lasting changes when we
permanent over repeated application.take ownership of the consequences of our
In creating the healthy lifestyle change that wedecisions and add before subtracting.
want - whether it be in our careers, our• Three stories from The Slight Edge by Jeff
interpersonal relationships or in our personal,Olsen speak to the small seemingly insignificant
day-to-day operations - we can ask ourselvesactions we can take that, over time will lead to
these questions:life-changing results.
• What areas of my life would I like toWhy "fake it 'til we make it" when we can "be it
improve?until we become it?"
• What one change in each of those areasIn Jim Cathcart's book, Relationship Selling, he asks
would I LOVE to see become reality? (Let'sa key question that challenges us to be by
choose ones we would love since we'll be fardecision until we become by nature: "How would
more inclined to keep working on them thanthe person I want to become do the thing I'm
those that would just be "nice to have".)about to do?"
• What tangible things can I put in front of meDecide, execute, and become - it's in us all to
that will help me to internalize and personalize thecreate the healthy lifestyle change we want!
desired goal?