Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ashley Willis

4 Keys to Making REAL AND LASTING Changes in Your Life

Last updated on: January 9, 2018 at 4:59 pm   by Ashley Willis

4 Keys to Making REAL AND LASTING Changes in Your Life 2018-01-09T16:59:25-04:00 Ashley Willis

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

4 Keys to Making REAL AND LASTING Changes in Your Life-0

Friends, if you’re anything like me, you love the feeling of a fresh start and setting new goals.  We want to better ourselves and our lives.  January is a popular time for this with New Years resolutions on our minds and in our sights. The gyms are bursting at the seams. The health food stores have empty shelves.  Married couples have a renewed sense of devotion.  And, church attendance is at an all time high. We’re a bunch of go-getters shooting for the stars.  Then…February rolls around, and swarms of us start dropping like flies and going back to the same old habits.  Sound familiar?

I’ve been there too many times to count, Friend. Why do we do this?

I think it has a lot to do with “ALL” and “NOTHING”.  These two stinkers creep into my mind and make me either ultra-committed to something or completely apathetic about it.  This “all-or-nothing” mentality is toxic and paralyzing, and it sets us up to fail.

I can be a sold-out, health-shake-drinking, early-rising, exercise-machine if I put my mind to it.  I’ll say “No” to all my favorite food time and time again…for weeks or even months…and be close to my goal.  I’ll tell myself that I’m ALL IN.  I might even purchase a shirt with “All In” on it, just to let everyone else know how committed I am to this goal.

But, then I get tired and bored.  My focus begins to waver.  And, then, without even realizing it, I’m back to my same old habits.  I end up feeling like a total failure, and I’m left with NOTHING to show for all of my hard work.

Just talking about it makes me want to go eat Cheetos instead of run.

The cycle is maddening and exhausting.

Sigh.

Friends, I’ve had enough of this.  I’m done with all-or-nothing thoughts and behaviors.  I don’t want my body, relationships, or my faith to look like a sloppy ping pong match.

So, how do we fight against the all-or-nothing beast?  How can we be ALL IN and WIN?

Slide: 1 of 6

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

all or nothing

change

diet

exercise

failure

improvements

marriage

new years

relationships

resolutions

Previous Post



December 22, 2015

5 LAST-MINUTE Simple and Fun CHRISTMAS Activities for Your Family

Next Post



January 18, 2016 3 Reasons a Husband Should Love his WIFE More Than He Loves his MOTHER


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Parenting Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul tell Timothy to do with myths and old wives' tales?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Correct them Have nothing to do with them Ignore them Refute them

Books by This Author Books by Ashley Willis

See All Titles »

Related posts from Ashley Willis

Family

How to Stand for What's Right in Your...

Ashley Willis

Family

How to Make this Year a More INTENTIONAL...

Ashley Willis

Family

When Making "Mom Friends" Feels Like Middle School...

Ashley Willis

Family

Are you expecting your spouse to be a...

Ashley Willis

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Family, Parenting and Religion

The Iron Gates and the Lion of the...

  Yesterday, I didn't finish my report about, well, yesterday.  So I'll...

Dolly Parton’s Last Song Wins Dove Award with...

Bluegrass band The Grascals, speaking on the red carpet at the 57th...

The Image: On the Horror of Capitalism and...

The Image Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might...

Thoughts about Halloween

We are approaching the date of our new American national holiday: October...

Letters on Living the Faith by C.S. Lewis

Most of us met C.S. Lewis as a public intellectual. Mere Christianity....

When Halloween Unmasks Married Hearts

Written by Dr. David K. Ewen from Eternal Truth Bible College Behind...

view all Family, Parenting and Religion blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube