Change Academy

Creating change can be difficult.  It can also be great…but it is rarely easy.  So it makes sense that we want some assurance that we have a reasonable chance of success before we’re willing to invest our resources–and get our hopes up. But when we ask, “Will I succeed?” we often look in the wrong places for the answer.In this episode, we talk about ways to evaluate your chances of success. More importantly, we want to offer some ideas for maximizing your chances of success. Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this encore episode, we revisit an interview with one of the excellent individuals that we coach in our Weighless.life program. Marieka has, at the time of this recording, lost 15% of her body weight. And she has done it through the types of lifestyle overhauls, habit changes, mindset shifts and all the fun stuff we talk about in this podcast, each and every episode.Find out more about Weighless (and enroll) at Weighless.life/enrollThe reason we asked Marieka on this episode is that we think it’s really valuable for you, someone who is in the process of making big changes (in any area of your life) to have concrete evidence that change really is possible (even when it’s a change you’ve been trying to make for a long time!) Monica and I can give you advice like crazy and assure you that “this stuff works” but it means a lot more coming from someone who has experienced it from the other side. Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

Have you ever wondered why you seem to be stuck at a particular weight, or a particular level of fitness, or a particular amount of money in the bank?If you’re like a lot of the people we work with, you’ve spent a fair amount of mental energy (and other resources) trying to make a change.  And yet, you find yourself seemingly stuck…unable to move out of your current reality into that vision of your future.The reason is both more surprising and simpler than you might think. In this episode, we will dig into what actually shapes our current reality (hint: it’s not your goals) and what we need to focus on in order to start making progress toward our future self. Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

Change can be scary. And sometimes, fears about what transformation might cost us can lead us to sabotage our own success. We may have mixed feelings about leaving certain parts of our selves (or our lives) behind–even if they are things that we don’t particularly like.These worries and fears are totally normal. But left unexamined or unchecked, they can keep us stuck. In this episode, we’re going to get all of that out in the open, so we can engage with it more intentionally…and more productively. Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

For some endeavors, all you need to succeed is knowledge and a good reason to follow through.  As long as you have a good set of instructions, you should be able to succeed on your first try. Acquiring a skill, however, requires knowledge plus practice.  If you expect to succeed at a skill without allowing yourself time to practice, you're likely to be frustrated.  (And we don't want that!) Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

If you have ever come up with a scheme to keep yourself from succumbing to temptation, you have experimented with a thing called a commitment device. As you’ll see, you are not the first to try this.In this episode, we’re talking about different types of commitment devices and whether they might be useful in staying on track with whatever you are trying to accomplish in your life–whether that’s breaking a bad habit, establishing a new behavior, or meeting a challenge that you’ve set for yourself. Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

As a society, we place a very high value on optimization. Now that it’s so easy to track your nutrition, sleep, exercise, productivity, your stock gains or weather, you naturally want to optimize them. What we don't always acknowledge is that optimizing for one thing is likely to cost you gains in at least one other domain. In this episode, we talk about why it’s so important to be clear on exactly what value you are optimizing for–-and what you are willing to sacrifice in order to do that. It is a tricky balance to find but well worth the effort.  Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

Our evaluation of a certain experience can be heavily influenced by things that actually have nothing to do with it. For example, if we happen to be very thirsty when we sample a new beverage, we may later remember it as being far better than it actually was. It’s called attribution bias. And if left unexamined, it can lead us to make choices or decisions that are not based on our actual goals and values.As with so many other things, correcting for attribution bias starts with becoming aware of its existence.TakeawaysOur response to an idea or judgment of an experience may have as much to do with the context in which we encounter it than the thing itself. Attribution bias may lead us to decisions or choices that don’t actually represent our true desires or values.Considering how the same experience would feel in a different context is a way of checking or correcting for attribution bias. It’s impossible to completely rid ourselves of attribution bias–but being aware that it exists can mitigate its power and allow us to make more accurate judgements and better decisions.  Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we talk about the importance of distinguishing between stress and stressors. Because this can be the first step toward reducing their negative effects, both on our bodies and on our lives.According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 84% of adults reported feeling stressed out. Two-thirds say that they feel overwhelmed by the issues they face. This is no way to live, much less thrive.  ★ Support this podcast ★

Focusing on a lot of projects at once is a good way to make sure none of them get done. In this episode, we dig into why focusing our efforts on one change at a time can create more change in our lives in the long run. This applies to projects we want to accomplish/finish, not just the habits we want to create.Most of us have a long list of things about our lives (or ourselves) that we would like to change. The problem is that when we try to change too many things at once, we end up changing nothing. That is why knowing what to focus on, and when, is essential. Interested in having Monica present at your next live or virtual event?  Learn more. ★ Support this podcast ★