Change is a curious thing. In most areas of life you dread it; yet, in others you pine for it. You’re told that change is hard, that it takes time. You’re also told that change is the most consistent thing that you’ll encounter. You wonder how to make lasting changes that will improve your life. I’m here to argue that change can happen in an instant.Most people believe that change has to be worked at for months or even years. We expect to try and fail numerous times before we ultimately give up or succeed. Think about it: How many people do you know who struggle with their weight? They want to make a healthy change by getting in shape, but the change never seems to take hold.Professional speaker and author Anthony Robbins says getting ready to change is what takes time. In the end, there’s an instant when the change occurs. Robbins outlines three specific beliefs that you must have to instantly create a lasting change:Belief No. 1: Something must change. Do you kind of want to get into shape, or do you absolutely have to lose the weight? Does dropping a few pounds sound nice, or is living another day in your current body simply out of the question? To make a lasting change you must be convinced that the time is right.Belief No. 2: I must change it. It is vital that you take full responsibility in making the change. Sure, others may assist you, but in the end you are the one who is going to make it happen. You have to want this change enough to make it your personal mission – no one else will do it for you.Belief No. 3: I can change it. Don’t let past failures get in your way. The truth is that you can do amazing things when you put your mind to it. Believe that you are capable of losing weight or making any other positive change in your life. Most people fail to make lasting change because they leave it up to willpower. This works for a while, but you’ll always revert back to what’s comfortable. The solution is to change what you’re comfortable with.Often, two things motivate humans: to avoid pain and to gain pleasure. When you want to change a behavior, the key is to associate pain with the behavior that you don’t want and pleasure with the behavior that you do want. You may want to lose weight and know that to do so you need to quit eating comfort food late at night. You also know that you need to start exercising on a regular basis. Up until this point your brain is trained to associate pleasure with eating comfort food late at night and to associate pain with exercise. It’s time to retrain your brain to feel good about exercise and to feel bad about eating late at night.Think about the negative aspects of being overweight and connect these unpleasant thoughts to the late-night snack. Now, think about the wonderful things about being in shape and connect these pleasant thoughts to exercise.You are capable of making a big change in your life. Remember, change can happen in an instant.– www.perfectfitwc.comRECIPE OF THE MONTHSpringtime Shrimp SaladHere’s what you need…For the Dressing1 Tablespoon grated orange peel1/3 cup orange juice1 tablespoon sugar2 tablespoons oil2 teaspoons Dijon mustardFor the Salad1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces8 cups torn Boston lettuce3 Oranges1 lb fresh or frozen shelled deveined cooked shrimp, thawedIn a small bowl combine all of the dressing ingredients; beat with a wire whisk until well blended. Set aside.In large nonstick skillet, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil. Add asparagus and return to boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until tender.Meanwhile, arrange lettuce on 4 individual salad plates. Peel oranges and halve lengthwise; cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.Drain asparagus. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Arrange asparagus, orange slices and shrimp over lettuce. Drizzle salads with dressing.Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 290 calories, 9g fat, 24g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 29g protein.
