The other day at church, in appreciation for the congregation making it to church for new service times, there were donuts available before and after the service.

I was tempted to grab one of the donuts, but you know what I did, instead?

With a heart full of joy and gratitude, I said to myself “I am so thankful that I am a person who does not eat donuts.”

I walked straight past the table full of donuts and went right into the service. Afterward, I stopped to get a cup of coffee, and that was when I saw the great variety of donuts available. There were glazed donuts, filled donuts, chocolate covered donuts, cinnamon swirled, etc. As I poured some cream into my cup of coffee, I heard myself say “one won’t hurt.” But then I thought. If I have one, why not have two?”

And then, it struck me. “I am so thankful that I am a person who does not eat donuts.”

So I took my cup of coffee and left the building.

Sometimes when you are working on becoming a new version of yourself, you have to remind your brain. Your brain will always want to take you back to default mode

Now I am not saying that I will never eat another donut.

But as I was not expecting donuts and I had not made the decision 24 hours ahead of time that I would eat a donut that morning; I decided to honor my commitment and not eat a donut.

I admit I had pretty strong urges as I got close and actually looked at those beautiful donuts. The chocolate covered ones still stick in my mind. But I just kept repeating to myself, “I am so thankful that I am a person who does not eat donuts.” And it worked. I was able to step away from the donuts and then leave the building, without eating a donut.

Prior to my transformation through coaching, I would not have even thought twice about eating a donut or maybe two!

But I chose and continue to choose to honor this my new “lifestyle” for maintaining my weight loss. I love my current size. I did not think it was possible that I could lose weight at my age and keep it off. And I truly want to stay at this weight for the rest of my life.

So the belief, “I am thankful I am a person who does not eat donuts” is real and believable to me. And this belief helped me to overcome that urge to eat a donut.

It may seem impossible to actually believe some of the thoughts that we tell ourselves.

But that is because we have to practice these new thoughts. When we first begin this exercise, the old thoughts will still dominate and work to force out this new thought. That is normal. Our brain does not like change. It wants to stay on “autopilot”.

But keep on practicing. Especially when you are in situations where urges to revert to old behaviors will come up. If you need more practice sitting with an urge, I encourage you to put yourself in situations where you will have to rely on your new belief to get you through.

Continue to hold the image in your mind of the person you want to be.

Role play and embody that person. Practice it enough until it becomes a way of life. Does this really work you ask? Are you totally freaking out? That is where working with a coach can be so very helpful. You can message me if you need any help practicing creating a new role or identity for yourself.

You, too, can and will have the ability to overcome your urges, create new habits for yourself, and live the life of the person you know you can be.

I believe in you.

You have all the tools you need to make a difference in the world. Make believe until you do believe. Start to implement the changes you wish to create, immediately. It may not “feel” right at first, but do it anyway.

Feelings often follow action. It is the doing (action) that paves the way for transformation (result).

You do not have to intellectually ‘know it’ or feel it. You can start with the intention that you are willing to become “a person who does not eat donuts” and begin to act like that person. The command here is to do. I did not say “be” that person. The state of being may not manifest for some time. But the actions that reveal the “you” can occur right away.

I am so excited for you to begin this journey of personal transformation. Contact me through my website to schedule a free session to see how working with a coach can shorten the time between make-believe and becoming your authentic best.