The most fun in health coaching is watching people who were sure they couldn’t make lifestyle changes gain confidence and become a doer. Trust me, I have had to convince people to make a start even if it was to just move around for 5 minutes. I have seen some of these people move on to become people who truly get the wellness message and are putting it into action. Sometimes we lack the confidence to believe we can be successful making changes in habits or behaviors.
Is your confidence level low, medium, or high?
To develop confidence, try one of these:
- Remember a time that you were at your best. List the strengths you used to get there. Ask yourself, “How can these strengths be used in achieving my current goals?”
- Notice your positive thoughts, the thoughts that help you move forward.
- Notice the encouragement you receive from others. Write down the people who inspire you.
- Congratulate yourself when you do something for yourself that shows you are worthy of being healthy, happy.
- Try one small change and congratulate yourself each time you complete the behavior. For example:
- Decrease sodas by 1 or 2 per week.
- Notice how you feel when you make a choice that supports your vision, versus a choice that doesn’t support your vision.
- March in place for 5 minutes several days a week.
- Add 1 vegetable or fruit to your diet 1-2 times a week.
- Manage stress by doing something you enjoy 1 time per week.
- Drink an extra glass of water several days a week.
- Read about any current or potential health issue you might have and how it can impact you and the people that are important to you.
Success breeds success so crushing any one of these will grow your confidence.
