Change is always hard. When we want to make changes for improvement, that is even harder.
Improving any aspect of our life requires change. That could be a change in career, or making changes for our health or for our relationships; there are always so many changes that we want to make, isn’t it?
Today I will share with you about the concept of micro-change and how we can use this philosophy to bring about any changes you want in life.
Normally when we plan to make a change, there may be one or more big steps that need to be taken, and this big step can include countless smaller steps that need to be completed for us to declare that the change has been accomplished.
For example: My big change might be to lose 5 pounds. The smaller steps could be: Going to the gym everyday, start watching calories, find a health coach, join the community walking group and so on.
In such a scenario, we may get overwhelmed with the number of smaller steps, our motivation might be low to execute each one of those steps. And it's possible that we may not even get started. This kind of change-making may or may not be sustainable for us and especially consistent change becomes a challenge.
Here is a model that I practice and I want to share with you.
One simple way to bring about change is what I refer to as micro change.
Micro- change is focussing on those smaller steps and identifying each step as a unit of change.
Micro change is an aspect of change that is doable, practical and realistic for us.
We don’t have to focus on the whole staircase; rather we focus on the individual step. We focus on taking the teeny-weeny step and actually doing it. That motivates and recharges us into taking the second small step. This gives us the momentum and the strength to make the third micro-change.
When you proceed in smaller increments thus, you will find that over time, you will be able to climb the entire staircase.
So, in the earlier example: My micro-change could be starting with a 15 minute exercise every day. Once I accomplish that, I feel empowered and I have the energy to move onto the next micro-change of joining a gym.
The philosophy of the micro-change approach is more friendlier and motivates the brain to execute the change rather than get overwhelmed.
Sometimes big chunks of change can scare us into not taking any action or we might abandon after the first few steps.
Micro change can help us feel more secure with the idea of change and the realistic component of it ensures higher probability of action.
Taking action is an important component of anxiety management and following the micro-change approach is far more reassuring, easier and sustainable, especially when we are trying to also grapple with anxiety.
Micro-change to calm the mind
One micro-change I am going to suggest that will go a long way to calm your mind is ‘Focus on your Breathing’.
Try to make this micro-change of focussing on your breathing for only 30 secs twice or thrice a day by observing in how you breathe in and out.
See the difference it makes on your mood, in your mind, in your productivity, in your relationships and in your communication.
Do drop a comment here and let me know how you are practicing micro-change.