I started a fantastic health balancing program under the direction of Dr. Natasha Turner, author of the Hormone Diet. Almost two weeks in, and I feel fantastic and well past the bumps and rattles of detox. Her program is a genius combination of good sleep, good food, good exercise and balancing supplements. Still, there are a lot of changes to my day and I have to check the schedule quite a few times to make sure I’m hitting all the high points. I pulled out a great change model we were taught at Duke for help – the Change Ladder. It reminds me to be patient with myself and the process and to appreciate the progress I am making on my goals.
Any change involves four steps
1. Blissful ignorance – you don’t understand what it takes to make a change and are completely sure that if you were going to undertake change that you would be very successful. I used to feel this way about a lot of things. Now I know better! (Called unconscious incompetence in the model)
2. In over your head – you’ve decided to make a change, but you suddenly realize how much you don’t know and how much you need to learn to make the change. A lot of people drop out at this stage because it is frustrating and overwhelming. Our group is very lucky to have Dr. Turner and the Clear Medicine team to guide us through this part! We don’t have to make all the choices and trial and error to work through this phase. (Conscious incompetence)
3. How much time is this going to take? – You are acquiring all the skills and knowledge you need and you’re gaining confidence to carry them out. But you have to think about everything you’re doing and it is time-consuming and disruptive to your normal routine. Another group drops out at this phase due to frustration and the pull of your old habits. (Conscious competence)
4. Oh, it’s nothing – your new skills have become habits and a part of your routine. Sometimes, you forget how much work you put into getting here and can risk backsliding. (Unconscious competence)
During stage 2 and 3 it’s kind of a mind over matter exercise. I think of my mind like I remember my twin toddlers. If they didn’t want to do something, they were masters of distraction and chaos. So I treat my mind the same way, with kindness and firmness by using the Yes . . . . and . . . . tool. In my case: Yes, I do not want to fill out my daily tracker and I’m going to do it anyways.
Keeping the model in the back of your mind when you’re attempting to add something new to your life can be a powerful ally. I find knowing and accepting that I have to spend a week or two thinking about everything I am going to do lessens the amount of frustration I feel. It also reminds me not to schedule a big change when I have a full calendar. So far it’s working!