Trying to let go of a habit/substance/behavior that you just can’t seem to shake may lead you to believe you’re out of options.

Not so.

There is ALWAYS another option.

As I need to be reminded of consistently: if you’ve not yet arrived at an option that works for you it merely means you’ve yet to uncover it. The soul workout is moving in this knowing for incentive in blazing a trail to it.

One option worthy of consideration involves two words that in my younger years I had a tremendous amount of disdain for: 

Slow Down. 

I know, I know– you want results yesterday and you’ve been led to believe that slowing down just makes everything take more time.

But that’s actually a mind-block. 

Consider instead that we have one role in our undertaking and it’s not to concern ourselves with the passage of time, but to concentrate on fully expending our energy on the task at hand, understanding that the actions taken while doing so, more fully utilizes the “time” we’re putting into it.

Play the long game.

Slowing down is more likely to bring about lasting change because by slowing yourself and practicing mindfulness, it gives your body the time to adapt to what your mind has already convinced itself of.

When your body and mind are in alignment, they are not struggling against the other and you receive both the physical and psychological empowerment it takes to overcome unhealthy attachments while acquiring optimal additions to your life. 

Employ a method that challenges you, but one that you know you’re realistically capable of executing, understanding that it will be a process rather than a “if I can’t achieve this in 6 weeks, forget it.” attitude.

When attempting to take something out of your life- taper it and slowly adjust and decrease until it fades.

When attempting to add something into your life- start small and increase slowly.

Slowing down to allow a process to take place is a huge soul workout for us weekend-warrior-all-or-nothing maniacs, but those who adhere to it become aware of its potential in bringing about those “wow, when did that happen?” moments when we realize with amazement that gradual changes within ourselves and our lifestyle have indeed occurred–as if somehow by magic. Which, in essence, they did. The magic of small daily disciplines.

Do the work consistently and allow the magic to happen its time. Precisely when it’s meant to.