Today, I want to offer you a tool to help you to feel more at peace.
I find that few things sabotage our sense of peace more than when we engage in impulsive, self-destructive behaviors.
If you’ve ever found yourself rummaging in the fridge late at night or buying loads of things you don’t actually need, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
These types of behaviors bring us immediate gratification… but have long-term consequences.
They rob us of the life we truly want.
I want to share with you my 3-Step Process to STOP Self-Destructive Habits so you can start living the life you truly want.
Step 1: Identify the Impulse
When you notice yourself about to do something impulsive, go “meta” for a moment and name what you’re doing. This is where you say to yourself, “I really want that glass of wine,” or “I really want that new pair of shoes.” By naming your impulse, you bring awareness to the fact that you are about to engage in a behavior that may not be in your best interest.
Step 2: Remember Your Deeper Need
If I were a genie who could fulfill any one wish of yours, what would you ask for? If you really stopped to think about it, you might ask for the ability to feel “bliss”—joyful, peaceful, and loved—as often as possible. Of course, you could ask for anything… so I encourage you to think deeply about this question: “What do you really need?”
Step 3: Filter Your Choices Through Your Deeper Need
Once you are in touch with your deeper need, you are ready to ask yourself each time before you engage in an impulsive behavior, “Will this meet my deeper need?” What I have found is that most of the time, that glass of wine or new pair of shoes will not actually meet our deeper needs.
The beauty of this 3-Step Process is that it helps us to consciously analyze the choices we’re making without feeling deprived.
Instead of saying to yourself, “I can’t have that because the rules say I can’t,” you’re saying to yourself, “I am choosing not to have that because it’s not in service to what I really need.”
When you meet your deeper needs, rather than your superficial impulses, you’ll likely find that you feel much more fulfilled and content.
About Isabelle
I’m a healer, teacher, and licensed therapist sharing tools to help you relieve stress and restore well-being.
Follow
SUBSCRIBE