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Create Lasting Change

01.23.25 |

Whether you are just beginning your journey or have reached Optimal health, the way you frame your health goals, your behaviors, and your approach to creating new habits has a big impact on the outcomes we experience.

Let’s say you had two choices. You can either think in terms of trying to fix your bad health (a problem orientation) or shift your focus to creating health (an outcome orientation). The first choice is about solving a problem; the second choice involves creating a desired state.

Why do you want to change?

If you choose the first option—and many people unknowingly do—you focus on problems or things you want to lose. This mentality can be temporary and difficult to maintain. You can adopt the healthiest diet that ever existed, but still find yourself returning to your old ways overtime.

For example, if you want to improve your health after being diagnosed with high cholesterol you may follow a health plan diligently. Once you begin to feel better and your cholesterol levels improve, the primary motivation to fix the immediate health issue—rather than a long-term lifestyle change—can subside and you might lose your drive.

Without a deeper, intrinsic motivation, previous habits can return—because the initial problem no longer feels urgent—and can lead to a return in increased cholesterol levels over time.

Changing our emphasis from what we’re against to what we’re for can have a dramatic impact.

The second choice sets you up to take action to bring what you truly want into being. When your focus is on what you’re gaining, it can align you with a sense of purpose and empowerment. Whether that means viewing physical activity as a way to build strength and endurance so you can spend more time with your children or grandchildren or eating healthy to improve overall wellbeing, adopting a growth mindset can help us move forward–continually.

It is important to return to why you are doing what you are doing on this journey. Your reasons—and your approach—are key to your ability to make changes and whether those changes will be transient or lead to the transformational power of the Habits of Health.

A big part of the Habits of Health System is your “why?” 

To help develop your Healthy Habits, each time you make a choice, instead of thinking about what you don’t want, reframe the thought by focusing on what you want to gain.

Your “why?” is your intrinsic motivation and the highest stimulus for change and can help drive you into action. To help you discover yours, head over to Element 01 in Your LifeBook. If you’ve already found your “why?” be sure to revisit it frequently. As you change and develop new Healthy Habits, your “why?” can evolve too.

Remember, the goal is to be healthy and thrive in all areas of your life. And your daily habits—your Habits of Disease or Habits of Health—will determine that direction.