5 signs it’s not worth changing something in your life … at least for now!

Often, throughout the course of our lives, some event will spark in us the need to change ourselves in some way – changing a bad habit, a defeating mindset, or a pattern of behavior which gets us in trouble, time and time again.

But changing ourselves is one of the hardest things in life. Humans are incredibly resistant to change, and changing ourselves often implies leaving our comfort zones and quitting ways of living, thinking and doing that we have developed and solidified over several years. The truth is that, sometimes, it’s REALLY hard to change ourselves… and sometimes even impossible, or not worth it, due to the problems that the process of transformation can create.

Here are the 5 signs that it’s not really worth it changing something in your life…(at least for now!):

# 1 – You’re not motivated, disciplined or determined enough

Most of us don’t wake up one day, decide “I’m quitting (insert bad habit or behavior here) today!”,
stop doing it effortlessly, and keep it going for days and weeks, without any resistance or detours.
Most of us end up fighting ourselves, feeling tempted to revert back to our “old ways”, and our
willpower and determination to change ends up fiddling after some days or weeks. And if you struggle with some mental health conditions, like ADHD or anxiety (which often make it harder for you to self-regulate and/or discipline yourself), you’re in for a long journey. Plus, your mental and/or physical health can suffer because of all the frustrations and obstacles that often come up throughout this whole process.

# 2 – You are considering changing mainly because of pressure from others or to get a reward

The most effective motivation is intrinsic motivation – when we are motivated to change because we find a personal sense of satisfaction in achieving our goal, or we enjoy the challenge. This is not to say that external motivation doesn’t work and the fact that your mother or boyfriend suggested that it would be a good idea to lose some weight can’t influence your decision. But at the end of the day, you need to make a decision for yourself – you have to be the one who realizes how important this change is, for you to be able to keep going.

# 3 – You haven’t yet outlined a workable plan, even if only in your head

Having a plan is a very important step when we want to change something in ourselves. As we come up with a plan, it forces us to think about our behaviors, anticipate the obstacles that may arise in our journey, and find solutions for them, before they trigger unwanted behaviors or habits. We can’t rely on our willpower alone to help us fight long-held attitudes – most likely we wouldn’t be able to control ourselves. Outlining a strategic plan will give us the best chance at being successful in this process.

# 4 – You are in a very complicated stage of your life, and you don’t have the mindset or energy for more hassles

We often underestimate the difficulty of changing ourselves. The fact is that changing even just a
simple habit is possibly one of the hardest things you will have to do in your life – because, often, that habit or behavior has become a part of your daily life for several years. So, attempting to change something that runs so deep is a tough journey to embark on. If, on top of that, you are going through a phase of your life where you’re facing a lot of demands, external commitments, you’re lacking time and energy… you will find it even more difficult to achieve your goal (and even more so if the habit or behavior that you want to change usually helps you to regulate your stress and anxiety).

# 5 – If you already tried to change yourself in the past but still feel like you’re struggling to carry on with the transformation process….

When we decide to change something in us, we need to be aware that most likely it won’t be a easy process. However, if you notice that it’s been an uphill battle pretty much from the day you started, maybe it’s a sign that something is off. Maybe the timing is off, because your life has suddenly become more chaotic, maybe your plan needs an adjustment, etc. Think about what might possibly be the problem, and then try again. Just remember that you are not a failure if you don’t achieve your goal the first time you tried it. Try to take each roadblock as a learning experience – and you’ll eventually be able to change what you want in yourself!

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