Small Shifts, Significant Growth: Finding Your Own Rhythm

In this thought-provoking episode of ABGW, join Cheryl Paris as she takes you on a journey to reshape your approach to habits and self-care. If you're smart, capable, yet feeling secretly exhausted, this episode is designed just for you.

Cheryl invites you to reconsider how you envision new habits, encouraging you to let go of the unrealistic expectations that often accompany them. Imagine shrinking that daunting image of a perfect routine down to the size of a postage stamp. By desaturating the colours and moving it further away, you can create a more approachable version of your goals.

Discover the power of simplicity as Cheryl suggests replacing grand ambitions with manageable actions, like turning a 20-minute practice into two rounds of four breaths in, six breaths out. She emphasises the importance of identifying existing cues in your life—whether it’s a calendar reminder or the sound of your kettle—allowing these anchors to support your new habits effortlessly.

Throughout the episode, Cheryl reassures you that every small action counts. She encourages you to choose one cue and stack it with a reward, reinforcing the idea that action is key to progress. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or unsafe, Cheryl reminds you that seeking professional support is not only acceptable but essential.

Every step you take, no matter how small, is a step towards a brighter and more balanced future. Trust in your journey, and remember, progress is progress, regardless of the pace.

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers.

Chapters

• 0:44 Welcome And Who This Helps
• 1:10 Choosing Structure Without Punishment
• 1:24 Reframing The Habit Picture
• 2:12 Set One Real-World Cue
• 2:54 Tiny Action And Choice
• 3:41 Safety, Support, And Progress

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:24

Welcome to ABGW. Amazing, brilliant, gorgeous, wonderful, five mindful minutes for your real life, not your imaginary perfect one. If you're smart, capable, and secretly exhausted, you're in the right place. Okay, so you tried before and it you just didn't stick with it. You can choose structure without self-punishment, you know. Imagine this. Notice how your brain pictures a new habit. You know, a habit that you've been looking at, thinking about, and thought, well, I'm not sure. Is it big, bright, daily, flawless?

SPEAKER_01: 1:28

Is it no wonder your chest feels tight. Let's turn it down. Let's shrink that image into the size of a postage stamp. Let's desaturate the colour. Let's move it a further arm's length away. Let's rename it from I don't know, 20 minutes practice to two rounds of four in, six out after meetings. Why don't you set one cue that already exists? Maybe it's a calendar pop-up, maybe it's the kettle clicking off. Could even be your car ignition. The thing is, sooner or later you'll notice the smaller, duller pictures feel doable, and you actually do it. That's sticking. So your tiny action today, if you choose to accept it, is to pick one cue you already have, an anchor, maybe one breath pattern there. If it helps, it's like a reward. I don't care. The thing is, it's about taking action. Next time, now isn't the right time. Maybe after this performance review. Let's zoom out and take back choice.

SPEAKER_00: 3:21

If you're feeling unsafe or overwhelmed, please reach out for appropriate professional support, including myself, because you're allowed help. Because every step you take, no matter how small, is a step towards a brighter, more balanced future. Trust in your journey and remember, progress is progress no matter the pace.