The first thing to do is make a decision; not just any decision, but a decision that incorporates your principles and values. It must also be a decision that is grounded in truth and love. Then you will need to discover several things, and gain clarity about why this change is an absolute necessity. After that, make an assessment of the damage to your four pillars of health and accept where you are now with compassion. Next you will begin to recover your health as you make the necessary renovations. Finally, evolution occurs because you are empowered by love.

CHANGE YOUR SELF-TALK

First, let me remind you that it is best to change your perspective to something inspiring. Instead of thinking about LOSING weight, let’s begin to practice thinking about GAINING health. You can do this with some healthy affirmations:

• I am healthy when I make this change.
• Doing this makes me feel healthy.
• I enjoy being healthy because I feel amazing.
• I accomplish more when I am healthy.
• I feel better about myself when I am healthy.
• My self-confidence increases when I am healthy.

Shifting your perspective allows you to start changing your inner self-talk. However, please understand that your self-talk will not change until you CHANGE your beliefs about yourself, the world, and God. Thus, be sure that your beliefs are grounded in truth and love. I stress this because it must be clear to you that change is not going to happen in your life without you taking some DIFFERENT action or actions.

D.A.R.E METHOD APPLIED TO WEIGHT LOSS

The goal is not just to gain health, but to stay totally healthy (healthy not just in your body, but also in your mind, and soul). When you are going to do anything in life, there always comes a point when you DECIDE the time is right. Sometimes you make the decision voluntarily, and sometimes you are forced to make a decision due to unforeseen circumstances (decline in health or finances).

1. DECIDE and DISCOVER
2. ASSESS and ACCEPT
3. RENOVATE and RECOVER
4. EMPOWERED and EVOLVE

With every decision, there is also a compelling reason that INSPIRES and MOTIVATES you to take action. Thus, you primary goal today is to discover your compelling reason or reasons. Remember anything you do that improves your health is a signal to your soul that you love and C.A.R.E. about self. You are rewriting your STORY when you change your negative self-talk and take healthy action.

CONSISTENTLY MAKE SMALL CHANGES

Do not panic if the change you need to make is a BIG one or it seems impossible. Remember who is on your side, and then realize nothing with God. Furthermore, big change is the result of consistent small changes. It can seem frustrating when you want to get IMMEDIATE results; however, this is why it is important to have the correct M.A.P.

1. Have clarity about your healthy mindset – know that change requires patience, that this is a gradual process and when done correctly it becomes your sustainable lifestyle.
2. Identify you attitude – is your attitude grounded in love, compassion, and empathy. We were never given a guarantee that life would be easy and free of trials. However, we were given a guarantee that we would be given EVERYTHING we need to live abundantly. Practice gratitude.
3. Examine you daily practices (also known as your habits or patterns of behavior) and your default habits – this is where the change ultimately has to take place. This is where your beliefs and thinking patterns come into play. Furthermore, this is where you exhibit emotion intelligence.