First Awareness, Then Action: How to Change Your Life

The study and article highlighted on this week’s Sunday Duo embody Abraham Maslow’s quote “What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.”

The Chileans who reacted to the new food label logos by adjusting their purchases and consumption, made the change after heightened awareness of their habits and the reality of the products they were purchasing—in that some where higher in sugar, calories, fat, or sodium than they had realized. A combination of information- and self-awareness.

The patients who “shed serious pounds”, did so after reaching an awareness climax around: morbidity; mortality; and/or a desire to care for children or parents. 

Awareness is the first major step to changing your lifestyle, whether that change is personal or professional. 

We typically think awareness campaigns aren’t enough. And alone, they aren’t, as they are centered around more information. If more information was enough, we wouldn’t have an obesity crisis. However, when the awareness campaign coincides with heightened self-awareness, it can be enough to prompt a behavior change journey. 

In fact, you are probably already a little aware, or else you wouldn’t be reading this. Or, maybe you’re reading it for a friend...

In any case, let’s start with how to increase self-awareness. 

How to Increase Self-Awareness

Beginning a mindfulness practice is a fantastic step. This could be a breathing practice, a meditation practice, using adult coloring books, reflective journaling...do a search for mindfulness practices and play with a few that look interesting. Find the one that works for you. 

Mindfulness will help you develop the skill of tuning into the present, without judgement. This will help you become more aware of how you feel throughout the day, and different triggers related to those feelings.

For example, how you feel when you do or don’t get physical activity or exercise. How you feel when you eat certain foods or eat too fast. How you feel when you’re stressed out at work or home or in traffic. 

I’m Aware, Now What?

So you’re developing awareness, and you realize that you want to make some changes to “feel better”. 

Maybe you’ve realized that a certain way of eating or moving (or not) makes you feel lethargic or bloated. Maybe you want to better manage your stress so you can finally fall asleep without a sleep aide. 

Maybe you have no idea where to start, you just know that you have suddenly started noticing all the things your mind and body have been trying to tell you and it’s time to make a change.

If you know where you’d like to start making changes (like starting a workout routine or making tweaks to your nutrition), look for a certified professional who can help you develop an action plan that will support your goals and pace, and who can help you actually implement it. 

Obviously, I’m bias toward a coach because I am one. The difference between coaches (see here for my full article on this) and a consultant/trainer, is that the consultant/trainer will tell you what to do. They will give you a workout plan or meal plan. You are often then left on your own to figure out how to implement the plan into your life.

A coach, on the other hand, will help you take the strategic steps toward adopting that plan into your life; breaking free of ambivalence, confusion, fear, self-doubt, interests, and more. The best workout or nutrition plan is the one you have the skills, time, and desire to execute.

If you have no idea where to start making changes, the best thing you can do is reach out to your medical provider or a certified professional who can help you decide where to start your change journey. 

Of course, as the Medscape article pointed out, few primary care doctors are trained in nutrition and obesity; depending on your current state, they may need to refer you onward. Don’t be discouraged. Keep searching for the person(s) that can help you help yourself.

Whatever you start with, whomever you start with, just remember to take it one day and change at a time. Forgive yourself for imperfections; learn from it and move on. No change is linear. There will be ups and downs. You will reach your goal, however, if you continue to consistently try.