| |
Start With A Baseline
By Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD
Making changes in your life is great and it is the way we grow and develop as people. Change is a constant process and part of being human. When you embark on changing anything in your life you have to start from where you are. Until you know where that is it would be difficult to effectively make the change. You have to start with a baseline.
Starting with a baseline is about honestly figuring out where you are and what you are doing so that you know exactly what needs to be changed. It may sound odd, but many of us are unaware of what we do. When my clients tell me they want to lose weight the first thing I do is have them keep a food journal for a week just to get a baseline. The next week they share how shocked they were to see not only how much they were eating, but also what they were eating. Many of us are on autopilot and we simply are not aware of what we are doing. When you track it - and this works with anything - you have a real picture of where you are and what needs to change.
I read a statistic once that said most people consistently spend about 10% more than they make. I believe that is true, and it is because what is being spent, especially on a credit card, is not tracked. I once had a client that just didn't have enough time to accomplish everything she needed to do. When she tracked her time for a week she was made painfully aware that she was spending hours in front of the television. The first step in change is awareness. You have to become aware of what you are doing and exactly where you are before you can proceed forward. Keeping track for a week or two will provide you with valuable information that will support your change effort.
Before you embark on any type of change effort you have to know where you are. I liken it to those travel maps that have an X printed next to "You are here." Until you are aware of exactly where you are - and many of us don't have a clue - it will be impossible to make the needed change.
The first step in your change effort is to determine where you are. Keep a log for a week or two. This will give you a realistic idea of what you are doing. You can track anything from how much money you spend to how many hours of sleep you get. Once you know the truth about where you are you can proceed.
About the Author
Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is the publisher of the award winning e-zine, 365 Days of Coaching. Her first book, 365 Days of Coaching – Because Life Happens Every Day (Universal Publisher, 2004) was named a finalist for Best Book 2004 by Publish.com and has a five star rating on Amazon.com. Visit Coach Lee at her websites coachlee.com and 365daysofcoaching.com. True Direction, Inc. Copyright
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/34925.html
| If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/34925.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
| Some other articles by Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD | Be Responsible To - But Not For
Many people are confused with the concept of responsibility. Many of us have confused the concept and believe we can be responsible for the actions, behaviors and thoughts of others. ...
You Can't Change Your Life Today
I find it amusing how many people, programs, and books are out there today that promise to change your life in a second, a minute or as long as a day. Although intriguing as ...
Stop the Negative Fantasy
Worry is one of those things that will pull you down and stop you in your tracks quicker than most anything else. Most things you ...
What I Learned from Buddy
Adopting a fur child (dog) after the death of Muffassa, my first and most beloved fur child was not my idea. My husband, however, thought getting a companion for ...
Nothing Is Ever 'Off The Record'
When sharing information off the record know that nothing is off the record. If you tell someone anything understand that the chances that they will tell someone else is good. There are few situations where ...
Just Ask
At one time or another we have all let fear get in our way of asking for what we want. It might have ...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
