Change Academy

In this episode, we talk about impulse control and how giving in to unplanned urges can get in the way of achieving lasting change. Not only that, but it can rob us of the pleasure of anticipating and maximizing an indulgence. Main takeaways: It’s not about deprivation. We are not suggesting that we live without pleasure.  In fact, we are suggesting the opposite! Impulse indulgences are usually mu...

In this episode, we discuss why our past failures (or successes) don't predict our future successes (or failures). Then, more importantly, we get into how to dismantle that idea so you can clear a path for future change and growth. There is a tension between using our past to our advantage while also not getting stuck in it. And striking that balance is tricky. Cutting ourselves completely free fr...

The truth is that every time we give ourselves an excuse to quit, we get better at quitting. But every time we don’t quit, we get better at pushing through. So, both quitting and not quitting can become a habit. And an identity. Reasons we quit : Not seeing benefits. Fatigue and anticipation of future fatigue Perfectionism (all or nothing thinking) Success would move us out of our comfort zone. La...

In this episode, we look at our beliefs and how deeply they affect both the choices we make in life and how we react to situations. Here is a bit of a spoiler: As we go through life, we may need to periodically reexamine our beliefs to make sure they still serve us. ★ Support this podcast ★

This is an approach we developed to help people in our Weighless program create sustainable weight loss but this process can be applied to any change that you want to make in your life. In this episode, we explain how it works. Key Takeaways: You really need all three of these to make change sustainable. All the awareness in the world doesn't create change until you form a concrete intention. And...

We have come to the final topic on our list of eight things we believe need to be in place in order for real, sustainable change to happen. In this episode, we are tackling the idea that there is no "finish line" to cross. Change is forever. Key Takeaways: We aren't simply reaching a finish line, we are changing ourselves. Fundamentally but also dynamically. The great thing about that is you don't...

We think that failure shouldn't happen and that if it does, it means that something has gone wrong. But failure is not the opposite of success. It's the path to success. We do not achieve success when we put sufficient distance between ourselves and our failures. We achieve success when we learn to bring our failures close, examine them with clear-eyed compassion, learn what we can from them, and...

In this episode, we are moving down the list to #6 (of our eight key behaviours) and discussing why practice is important ... and also why it may be more nuanced than you might have thought (Hint: it's more than just repetition). Key takeaways: Practice, practice, practice. Practicing once isn't enough. But it is more than just repetition, it needs to be deliberate practice. Don't just practice th...

Look at your social circles and habitat. Do the groups you belong to have the identity you want? Does your home or office reflect the identity you want? If not, what can you easily change or adapt to make it more aligned with your vision of your Ideal Self? Key takeaways: Hack your habitat to support your vision of yourself. Spend your time with people who encourage you to become our best self (an...

It’s exhausting to carry around a goal that we never get any closer to. To have a problem that we can’t solve–or that won’t stay solved. To make the same resolution over and over again. When you identify something that you want to change - and then don't take action or make progress - you start to pay a sort of psychic tax. Not only do you still have this unmet goal/desire, but you also have the a...

Your plan is your map. Without your map, you may make it to your destination but it will take a long time and you will expend a lot more energy and frustration getting there. Main points in this episode: Bridging the Intention/Behavior Gap (It’s not just you; everybody struggles with this). Action Planning: Anticipating how, when, where you will perform the steps. What do you need to put in place?...

Well beyond a number on the scale or an amount in your bank account, your objective keeps you moving forward in your journey of change. Questions we answer during this episode: Why can’t I just have a plan and do it? Why is a goal or objective so important? What is the difference between a goal and an objective? What do I do if I have tried to hit this goal before and failed? How do short term goa...

Both curiosity and openness are essential to creating lasting change. Curiosity goes hand in hand with a willingness and ability to look at thoughts, feelings, actions, outcomes. Key takeaways in this episode: The right answer is only right for you (keep in personal). Don’t get hung up on what you think you should be doing, try stuff. Ask yourself why this happened so you can learn where the proce...

Last episode, we outlined the 8 things we believe to be essential for creating sustainable change and in this episode we’re going to take a closer look at the first one on our list. A Reason. Change is hard and uncomfortable. So, your desire to change yourself has to be greater than your desire to keep things the same. That is where a compelling reason comes in handy. Takeaways: 1. Your desire to...

The eight things you need to make any change become lasting and sustainable, in our opinion, are: A reason, Curiosity, An objective, A Plan, Support, Practice, Failure, and Forever. We'll look at each of these in more depth in future episodes but for now, this is what you need to know. 1. A Compelling and Personal Reason - not the what and how but the WHY. 2. Curiosity - in a nutshell, this is the...