As the New Year approaches, have you been thinking about positive changes you would like to make in your life for 2022? Did you start coming up with New Year’s resolutions? So many look at a new year as a time of renewal, an opportunity to make those kinds of changes that can positively impact your life for years to come. That said, you don’t want to make too many changes too quickly, nor do you want to adopt an “all or nothing” mindset. Dr. Yvonne Thomas, an experienced therapist in Los Angeles, can help you change your life in more positive and lasting ways.
Start With A List Of Priorities
One piece of advice Dr. Thomas often gives her clients is to make a list of what changes they would like to make. Then, start with the changes that you can implement right now, particularly ones that may be mandated by an external factor like a task at home or at work. Not letting your laundry sit for too long or getting your work done by a deadline could be examples of such changes.
Time Sensitive Changes
That having been said, you should not procrastinate on the biggest, most potentially scary changes. For instance, if you’re considering moving, starting a new job, starting or ending a relationship, etc., you should not have these last on your list. Don’t make the list “most significant to least significant.” However, you can prioritize the list in a particular order by figuring out “what needs to be done sooner vs. later.”
Don’t Try To Take A “Flight Into Health” Approach
If you’ve ever made the New Year’s resolution to lose weight and get into better shape, then you may know how destructive the “flight into health” mindset can be. So many go to the gym on New Year’s Day or something similar, only to burn themselves out and cease working out not long after. So, aim for your goals in a realistic and positive way in which your changes can keep building stronger and stronger.
Be Patient And Kind With Yourself
Change takes time. You try to take a “flight into health,” everything can fold like a house of cards, falling apart quickly because the changes are not being built on a solid enough foundation. Instead, it is best to make one or two changes at a time. They can be small ones to start, which is completely acceptable. Then, you can build a sturdy foundation from these changes. You can start adding new changes on top of those first changes. Whether you’re making big life changes or comparatively “smaller” ones, change takes time so that it can get engrained.
A Therapist In Los Angeles Who Can Help You Make Changes That Stick
Dr. Yvonne Thomas has helped people who want to see change in their life for more than twenty years. In that time, she’s helped guide her clients towards making the sort of changes that improve their life in a more longer and more positive way so that they can live the kind of lives that they want. Every change, no matter how large or otherwise, starts with small, realistic steps. Along the way, it pays to be patient and kind to yourself. For more help with any of this, you can schedule a free consultation with Dr. Thomas through our website or by calling (310) 359-9450.