How to Find Sustainable Change in the New Year

By Dr. Molly Casey

There are all types of techniques, tools, systems and programs to follow in regard to self-improvement and health, fitness, and wellness. For anyone looking to make changes to their body, fitness, weight, or anything else regarding health, there is no shortage of people offering techniques, tools and “their way” as the answer to create the results you desire. This is especially true in the new year as many make resolutions, goals, and attempt to change habits with body, food, weight, and health. So what is the issue, and why do so many people fail if there is so much out there to help you succeed?

Over the next few weeks we’ll look at making changes in your health journey that will stick.

A Lack of Understanding

If you are in a situation in which you do not like the circumstances in front of you and you wish to change something -- you want to create lasting results -- you must first understand what’s going on. If you don’t first understand the situation, the tools, or techniques you implement to fix the situation -- while perhaps temporarily providing relief or appearing to create desired results -- will not last.

A Leaky Roof

I am going to use an entirely unrelated example to health, body, and weight, but I believe it will drive home the point. Imagine that it’s raining outside and you walk into the living room of your house, where you find a puddle of water on the floor. You can wipe it up and hope that it takes care of it. You can notice the puddle -- commit to cleaning it up but first look around to determine if a bucket turned over, a glass cracked, or a window was open. You can go one step further and look to the ceiling and determine if it is coming from there. Perhaps you notice it is coming from the ceiling. You could then call someone to repair the ceiling. Or you could notice the puddle, investigate within your means (where does it appear to be coming from), then call some contractors to assess where the problem actually exists (roof, chimney, gutters, etc.) This does not mean that you don’t wipe up the puddle, you do. And perhaps you take another measure to put a bucket below the leak so as to prevent the puddle from occurring again. But in order to create lasting change and stop the leak and the long-term damage it will cause to the structure of the house, you first must understand what is occurring.

In this analogy, the structure of the house is your body and the health of that structure dictates the longevity of it. The leak is a result of a problem in the structure. The puddle is the symptom. The tools/techniques you choose to apply is what avenue you take to address the issue of the puddle (only wipe up the puddle; investigate and wipe it up; investigate and call an expert to get an evaluation to understand the cause, then wipe it up and engage with experts and advise them to correct the problem).

The Basics

You don’t need to be the expert in everything to create lasting change in your health, body, and life. That’s impossible. However, you must have an understanding of the basics of the current situation you’re trying to change, where you and your body are at in relation to the basics, review the options (different tools/techniques available) to help you create change, and then commit to action and follow through.

This approach to resolutions will help you achieve your goals and sustain the results you desire. It may not feel like the fastest route, but it’s the route to sustainable change.

The following articles this month will be on the basics with regard to food, body and weight because at the beginning of the year body weight is one of the biggest focuses of change.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.