Be The Change
When I want to start a new habit, I think about it as becoming a slightly different version of myself—still me, but with something fresh. A new habit means change and growth, which also means stepping into an unfamiliar, uncomfortable but hopeful space. I know now that part of building any new habit is building trust in myself. I trust that my old habits are easy and comfortable, and I trust that the new ones will feel clunky for a while. And, with practice, that has become fine; I’m creating new layers of who I am.
Take, for example, the time I set out to wake up earlier. I knew it would take practice and a lot of failed tries. In the beginning, I’d turn off my alarm, convincing myself I was awake, only to drift right back to sleep. Trusting the process meant realizing this was normal. Trusting myself meant knowing I would get better at it, if I keep trying small step by small step. I’d remind myself that the new habit might not feel natural immediately, but every morning was a new chance to practice the version of me that wakes up early.
To become that person, I set up simple systems, trusting that taking small steps makes a difference, I’d start to get closer. What would someone who gets up early do? They’d probably go to bed earlier, resist turning off their alarm unless they’re sitting up, and maybe add a reward, like a small ritual to look forward to. For me, a milk frother became my go-to incentive—knowing I’d turn my morning coffee into a café moment made getting up a bit easier. Each morning that I practiced waking up a bit earlier, I built a little more trust that I was becoming the person I wanted to be. Today, that means one less snooze hit; tomorrow, it might mean ten more minutes of sleep gained by going to bed earlier.
With each small success, my trust grows. Change is tough, and it can feel like a constant stretch into something uncomfortable. But practicing small changes, step by step, brings me a little closer to the habits I want and to the person I’m choosing to become. And each time I trust myself enough to keep going, I know I’m already there.
ACTION: Take one step today that your future self will thank you for. Keep it small and manageable—sometimes the tiniest actions build the most trust over time. Remember, each step is an investment in who you’re becoming, and that consistency is what turns effort into growth.
