The Power of Habit

I started reading a new book...The Power of Habit, Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg.  I bought it with the hopes of discovering some light bulb moment for how I can change my own habits around eating, exercising, etc...all those things I don't do well but I'm working on improving.  It's an interesting read so far...mainly because I thought I could just CHANGE and it would become a habit...but I'm realizing as I read the book is very correct -- habits cannot be eradicated, instead they must be replaced.  And the Golden Rule of habit change:  If we keep the same cue and the same reward, a new routine can be inserted.  However, the piece I think I've been missing (and probably many others miss) in order for a habit to stay changed -- I must believe that change is possible.  Belief.  And most often, belief emerges with the help of a group.  So, I am on the road to weight loss by finding an alternative route...and I've committed to a group at work, Team Teal in our Biggest Loser challenge.  I'm not "dieting" -- I'm really eating WELL and as such, I'm eating less.  I'm not obsessing (as I typically do) and overextending myself with exercise but m incorporating exercise into my daily habit.  I get home from work, change my clothes, head to the gym...The reward of my workouts is the rush I feel at the accomplishment of running that mile, mile and a half, 2 miles...pushing my body to lift those weights and feeling the rush.  And I've got Team Teal to help me believe I can.  Together, we are changing habits and believing in ourselves.

Anticipation...

Wow, it's been a very long time. Very appropriate that my first post in 2 years is about anticipation.

Lately I have been experience a lot of anticipation...lots of discussion about anticipation and going through the emotion of anticipation. Webster's defines anticipation as "the act of looking forward; especially : pleasurable expectation" or "visualization of a future event or state"...in my situation either or both of those apply. Pleasurable expectation. I like that. Yes, I have have been in a "pleasurable expectation" state quite a bit in the last few weeks. And more to come...apparently, tax season means I have to visualize that future event or state that will bring me to a "pleasurable expectation". Heh. I even like saying that. Pleasurable. Expectation.

So while I wait, I am using this anticipatory period as a catalyst. A catalyst to induce change in myself. I am working out more. I am eating better. I am tracking what I am doing. I am getting healthy. Because I want that pleasurable expectation to live up to all the expectations I have...all that I am anticipating...and damn, it feels good to be here right now!