Lasting Change: The Power of Intrinsic Motivation and Coaching

By Rose Ferguson, C. Ht.

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Lasting Change: The Power of Intrinsic Motivation and Coaching

Often when we decide we want to make a change in our life, we do it spontaneously and without much planning. We see a photo of ourselves we dislike, someone dumps us because we’re a smoker, or we get really ill and decide: this is the last straw! We then make drastic changes to every possible aspect of our lives, only to find ourselves right back where we started a few months later.

This cycle sometimes begins because we abruptly decide to make a change, without really examining why that change feels important to make. Other times we’re making a change that we believe someone else wants us to make, rather than one that holds value for us.

Our motivations need to be intrinsic rather than dictated by outside influences. Once we understand where we want to go and why, we can start to formulate a plan to get there. Looking at our long term goal and breaking it down into bite-sized pieces can make goals feel more achievable.

Coaching can help you discover what habits and changes are aligned with your values, and which may not be relevant for your life. Working with a health and wellness coach can help you reverse engineer your goals by focusing first on your wellness vision. Where do you want to be, and why?

To discover your values, you can make a list of what is a priority in your life. Write down everything that’s important to you. Ask yourself questions like, “what’s important in my life?”   Your list might include family, faith, flexibility, happiness, personal growth. Ask yourself why something feels important to you.

Starting with smart, achievable goals helps to ensure we don’t get frustrated and slide back to our old habits. A skilled coach can help you formulate goals that are realistic for your life and provide accountability to keep you on the path to health.

Working with a coach offers a safe space for your goals, dreams, and fears. Even the most well meaning friends and family can impose negativity on our plans. A coach is there to support you with no judgment. Coaching can be helpful for anything from weight loss, fitness goals, work/life balance, relationship strategies, or stress management.

A healthy lifestyle is crucial for avoiding chronic disease. What a gift to give yourself to get some guidance and support when building healthier habits.