You Do Need A Miracle

What inspires lasting change? We know fear causes us to change, at least temporarily.

My husband is a physician and often must inform patients that they need to exercise more or change their diet. He is gentle but clearly outlines the unpleasant future that is in store if their old behaviors continue. His patients know that unless their habits change, very bad scary stuff is in store.

And most of these patients do change... for a while.

Fear is a short-time change agent. After a few days, maybe a week, they stop exercising, and abandon their diets. The sharp point of fear is worn down day by day, and old habits return.

What supports long-term change? 

A vividly imagined future fuels new behaviors and creates new habits.

It takes a leap of faith for a sedentary patient to fully describe a day which includes a two-mile walk, climbing stairs, and sitting on the floor with a grandchild. But expressing that future day--in detail--is the first big step in lasting change. 

I help my clients to take a similar leap with a request:

"Will you suspend your rational thinking and go on an adventure with me?
Will you believe in a miracle, for just a few moments?"

Imagine after you go to bed tonight, a miracle happens while you are sleeping. You don't know about the miracle because you're asleep. But overnight the biggest problem which has been plaguing you is somehow gone. We don't know how the problem has been solved, but it's gone. 

What is the first thing you would notice that morning? 
What would you do, say, smell, see? 
What would your partner notice? 
Would others notice?

Within 10 minutes, most of my clients can envision a full, complete, highly detailed post-miracle day. These clients can now quickly describe a future they never could have articulated before.  

And then the true miracle begins.

Once the vision has been born, my clients can start constructing a path to that future. This also means that their long-term, sustainable change is underway.

It may seem that our problems keep us from our preferred future, but it's our inability to imagine that future which is blocking our progress.

Lean into your miracle. When you wake up, what will you notice?