My husband quit smoking at the age of 65. He had been a pack-a-day smoker for more than 40 years and the habit had taken its toll on his lungs, rendering his breathing asthmatic, and leaving him with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
I suspect he made the decision to quit that day he was desperately fighting for each breath, and he probably vowed to live the rest of his life cigarette-free if he came out of the attack alive, because that is what he did. March 13th 2016 was the last cigarette he ever smoked.
Many, including me, assumed the damage to his health could not be reversed. We could see how frail he had become and hoped we had a few more years with him. But after 1 month smoke-free, the change was already noticeable. First thing to change was the incessant coughing…it just stopped. After another month, his colour was so much better, and he had more energy. He took on badly needed weight, probably 30 lbs. In the end, he did succumb of chronic COPD but he earned 8 healthy, strong years after quitting smoking.
Change and transformation are ongoing processes that can happen at any stage of life. People are remarkably adaptable. Humans come equipped with resilience that allows us to learn new habits, acquire new skills, and adjust our mindset. All we need is determination and personal effort.
Everyone has the capacity for renewal no matter what our past may be. It’s never too late to realign your actions with your values or pursue a new path. A couple of years ago, I embarked on a transformative journey, focused on being more positive through a combination of self-awareness and intentional habits.
- I began reframing my negative thoughts, catching myself when I had them and challenge those thoughts with phrases like “this is hard but I can figure it out”.
- I started a gratitude journal, writing down things I was grateful for, even if some of these things were small.
- I repeated positive affirmations like “I am capable” and “I am worthy of good things” and it helped reinforce a positive image of myself. Snoop Dog produced a series of positive affirmations for children that I enjoy viewing from time to time. You can check it out here.
- I began surrounding myself with positivity, spending time with people who uplifted me and inspired me. I consumed positive media content like motivational books, podcasts and videos.
- I adopted a growth mindset, viewing failures as opportunities to learn and grow, and telling myself everyday I learn something new I did not know before. I acknowledge these as small wins. After all progress, even if its minor, builds momentum.
- I began engaging in mindfulness excersizes like meditation, and staying present to foster a sense of peace.
“Your new life starts with today’s intention.”
This mindset-change led me to discover writing. I always enjoyed writing, as it filled one of my creative needs, but also, journaling made me understand that writing was my therapy and connected me to thoughts and ideas that were just waiting to be written.
This led me to write a blog mostly for friends, and that led to self-publishing a guide to journaling, which led me to produce other journals and workbooks. I knew I had a natural coaching ability, since I had done it most of my life, and as a result of this new path I was exploring, I also began accepting and calling myself a writer. Now I am writing a book – Putting Your Passion to Purpose – 125 Ways to Get Excited Again About Your Life and it’s something I would never have considered doing.
“Turning the page doesn’t mean you erase the previous chapters.” It means you’re ready to fill the next one with new adventures.
The takeaway for you today is that change doesn’t need to happen all at once. It did for my husband, but for me it happened over time, making it possible to change patterns, self-beliefs and behaviour. Consistent little steps add up and can lead to meaningful transformation over time. What matters most is a willingness to take the first step and a commitment to keep moving.
Life is unpredictable and new opportunities for growth and change appear all the time. Did I think I would ever be a Solo Cruiser? No, but here I am on day 22 of a 32-day voyage and I am ROCKING IT!!
