Change is not one size fits all

There has been a lot of rain in Atlanta this summer, especially in the last few weeks. This has created the perfect conditions for a mushroom wonderland in my backyard. I've been wandering around looking at all my fun little friends with their different sizes, colors, shapes, and textures.

As I strolled around my backyard looking at all the different varieties, I started thinking about how we are a lot like mushrooms. We are all unique, we come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, and we need different conditions to grow and thrive.

And while we are different in so many ways, we also share the same basic needs of sun, water, food, and somewhere for us to plant roots and grow strong.

There is a quote that says, "We are all human but in no way are we the same. We all have things that make us individual and unique. There is a story behind each and every one of us. A reason why we are the way we are."

So what does this have to do with mushrooms growing in my backyard, and why am I comparing them to people? 😂 I'm glad you asked.

When we start to create new habits, we often get drawn in by a one size fits all approach. We see the commercials that show us how all these people lost hundreds of pounds, created abs of steel, or found more energy by taking a pill. It’s intriguing because we want these results and we are seeing people who have actually experienced them.

This is why the diet industry makes $60 billion per year. They show you what you want to see, the results. Then they sell you a product that is one size fits all. People think it should work for them just because it worked for the people in the commercial. When they are not successful they get frustrated quit and start thinking they can never lose weight. They may try again and they may even find success for a while but because it isn't tailored to their needs they will fall off over time. It becomes a vicious cycle of dieting, falling off, rinse and repeat. It isn't sustainable because it doesn't consider you, your life experiences, and how those will affect your approach and success.

This doesn't just apply to the diet industry, you could insert almost any industry that is helping people make changes and find similar results.

When it comes to you and your habits, there is no such thing as one size fits all. While there can be a basic and general outline for how to be successful with habits, each of us has our story, and the experiences that make us the way we are, and we have to consider that when we try to create change in our life. We are all different and unique so the strategy used to help us reach our goals should also be different and unique. 

What works for me will not necessarily work for you. In fact, it could actually leave you feeling frustrated. I may have been able to implement changes to help me manage and deal with stress but I was also in a situation where my health depended on it. If my situation hadn't been so urgent I'm not sure if the changes I wanted to implement would have taken or if I would have even tried them.

Your life experiences will 100% affect how you approach your habits.

This is why coaching is so effective. It's not a one size fits all approach. When we create a program tailored to you, your needs and wants, and based on what works best for you, you will be successful. No one knows you better than yourself. You're the only one who has experienced what has helped you to be successful and what hasn't. You know the life lessons learned from the moments that didn't work.

So when you are looking to create a program to implement new habits, why not listen to the one person who knows what will work?

I know what you are thinking right now, Kathy, if I am the one who can help me be so successful why haven't I been able to do it yet?

This is also part of what we tackle with coaching. We all struggle with doubt and uncertainty and we typically bite off more than we can chew. When we are ready to change we usually decide to completely overhaul our life. It is learning how to take small bites, creating habits that are so small you know without a doubt you can show up for yourself in this way every day, that ensure success. Having someone help you look at what you want to do, find out why you want to do it, and then help you implement small, actionable strategies is life-changing.

This is where I come in. This is what I do. Does everyone need a coach? Absolutely not. But if you find that you are trying to implement habits without success can a coach be helpful? 100% yes.

At the end of the day, it always comes down to the same thing, you get to choose what works best for you.

If you are interested in coaching but want to find out if we are a good fit, click the button below to set up a free 15-minute discovery call.