How to Transform Into the Best Version of Yourself

Most people have something about themselves that they would like to explain. In 2020, when the world fell apart, many people had time to think and re-evaluate their lives. The pandemic highlighted the best and worst in people. As the world slowly has begun to return to “normal,” some are finding the readjustment difficult because they “have seen the light” (sort of speak) during this time of reflection and introspection. Some people have concluded that they both want more and deserve more. But the “more” isn’t always tangible. Sometimes the more is wanting self-improvement—becoming healthier, paying closer attention to their physical appearance, and planning for the future. The path to achieving the desired change(s) is individualized and personal. There is no designated script to accomplish this. However, there are certain steps that will almost always be involved in any transformation.

1. Identify why you want to make changes in yourself. Is it for you or someone else? If it’s for someone else, there likely will be issues because you need to want it for yourself. People who attempt to change for others generally 1.) fail, 2.) become unhappy with the change, and/or 3.) revert to his/her previous self.

Consider a person with a substance abuse problem who agrees to go to a rehabilitation program at the urging of loved ones. The person abusing substances may realize that his/her behavior is hurtful to others. And the person truly may not wish to hurt others. However, unless the person truly desires change within himself/herself, the chances of that person remaining sober are significantly decreased.

Another important question to ask is what is expected to be achieved by this change. What aspects of your life will improve or be affected by this change? What are the benefits of making this change? Are there any negatives? How will this change affect others in your life and your future goals? What will be gained by making this change?

• Identify what characteristic(s) you want to change. A person cannot begin to change if he/she doesn’t know what he/she is attempting to change. A person cannot participate in a race if he/she doesn’t know where the starting line is located. Make a list of these characteristic(s). Seeing things in writing sometimes makes them seem more real and causes people to feel more accountable to complete them, or, at least, actively work toward reaching them.
• Identify the root of why the characteristic(s) you seek to change came to be. This allows one to identify how to begin the change process. For example, if someone wants to lose weight but hasn’t been successful in the past despite exercising daily and making healthy eating choices, perhaps there is a medical condition or medication that is the culprit. Understanding the root allows a person to develop an accurate plan. Otherwise, the person may be unsuccessful not due to a genuine effort not being made but, rather, due to an ineffective methodology.
• Identify a clear destination. Where do you want this change to go? What is the objective? What is the ultimate goal/target? Just like it is important to know the starting line, it is equally important to know where the finish line is located. Where do you want to go? If one doesn’t know his/her destination, he/she is bound to find himself/herself aimlessly wandering in no-man’s-land. It will be a journey of limbo.
• Be intentional. This step involves definitions—setting boundaries and perimeters. What are the rules? What are the priorities? What does one value? What is one willing and not willing to do to accomplish this change? What are the non-negotiables? What is one’s standards?
• Following being intentional, this is where forming a plan falls. This is the route that will be taken to get from the start to the finish. Operantly define each goal. Be specific. Instead of having a generic goal to exercise, a specific goal may be to swim fifteen laps each day before work. in less than twenty minutes at the YMCA pool to lose two pounds a week. The objective is clear here with the what, when, where, why, and how.
• Set a routine. This is the second part of the previous point. Consciously deciding on a routine creates habits, and habits become second nature to goals. For example, I was always losing my keys and had to spend sometimes hours looking for them because I would randomly set them down without mentally noting where. Even when I would attempt to retrace my steps, I would have forgotten all of my movements. One night, my child began to choke, and I couldn’t find my car keys to take her to the ER. Fortunately, I was trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. It (along with other techniques I used) worked to dislodge the object she had choked on. From that day, I swore to never lose my keys again. I began a routine of placing my keys in a dish by the door the second I entered. Initially, I had to think to do it. Now, it’s automatic. And on occasions that I forget, my muscle memory triggers when I place them elsewhere. Changing characteristic(s) in oneself is no different. It requires mindful awareness, and routines can set this in motion.
• Create a vision board. This relates to point number four: to visualize what one wants to achieve. A vision board can serve as both a reminder and a motivation. There are many ways to create vision boards, and they don’t have to be elaborate. Some people create them on a sheet of paper and pin them to bulletin boards or stick them on the front of their refrigerator. Others choose to use poster boards that they hang in their homes. Yet, others may create them electronically and use them as the background on their computers or phones. There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to creating vision boards.
• Begin by making small daily changes. Sudden changes can shock the system and be overpowering while gradual changes can provide comfort. I hate to use something so negative as an example, but it will illustrate the point. One reason child pervs are able to engage in their sick behavior is because they groom their victims. Grooming is the act of taking small steps that are unnoticeable to get the child comfortable to comply with more egregious behavior. Transforming oneself is no different. It is intentionally taking small steps each day to ease into a comfortable transition of a larger change.
• Speaking of habits, being aware of behavior is critical. The previous point stressed creating new routines to become habits. However, chances are that the behaviors/characteristics (s) that one wants to change are already habits. Since habits are behaviors that people engage in without paying much attention most of the time, a person wishing to change must pay special attention to avoid slipping into old habits. For example, I had a habit of writing phone numbers down without writing the name. Days later, I wouldn’t remember whose they were. Now, when I write down a number, I remind myself to double-check for a name.

That’s all I’ve got. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:

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Did you miss the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.