Page 8 - 2022-11
P. 8
COVER STORY
but it’s not important enough for me to idea is to set yourself up for success and build
put in the work required to get that body. upon that success, slowly and sustainably.
You may want to stand on an international
Toastmasters stage, but until you know Create an Environment that
WHY and create a clear action plan to get Encourages Success.
there, it will remain a dream and not In my opinion, this tip is the most important;
a reality. I cannot stress this enough. Most of us think
Keep It Small that we lack willpower, when in reality,
we just need to create an environment
When making behavior change, that does not require heroic amounts
it is often important to keep it small. of self-control to succeed.
The biggest mistake I see, as a health coach, is If trying to lose weight or eat
when people try to make too big of a change too healthy, get the tempting food out
quickly. Success is built on small, incremental of your house! Those salty and sweet
steps done consistently. snacks that you cannot resist like chips, cookies,
This might sound counter-intuitive, but if etc – give them away or throw them away then
you are trying to exercise more, the last thing stop buying them! If they are in your house,
you should set yourself up for is going from your they will get eaten.
couch to visiting the gym 6 days per week. If Next, replace those foods with healthy
that’s the expectation you set, you may consider options. If you live with other people and don’t
yourself a failure if you go 4 times that week, want a fight on your hands, at least get those
easily leading to feeling discouraged. Instead, foods out of sight. If you walk past a plate of
commit to going 1 time per week. cookies every time you go in the kitchen, chances
Better yet, don’t go to the gym at all. Commit are you will eventually pick one up (or a couple
to 1 pushup per day, 1 sit-up or 1 jumping jack. It handfuls in my case). Instead, put them in a
may sound silly, but that’s also kind of the idea. cupboard, the garage or
Make it so small that it’s almost laughable. You somewhere out of sight.
can always do more than the minimum, so start You’ll be surprised how
slowly and build from there. quickly you forget about
In Toastmasters, it’s the same principle. If them. Out of sight out of
you completed 1 speech last year, then don’t mind really does work.
start this year telling yourself you must do 12 Also, surround
speeches or complete an entire new path. How yourself with like-
about committing to 2 speeches this year? The minded people who will be
8 ONE COMMUNITY
