In this episode, Colleen shares a powerful mindset shift inspired by James Clear's philosophy: meaningful change doesn’t require radical transformation. Instead, it’s about embracing a process of incremental improvement, rooted in changing your identity and self-perception. Colleen explains why the first step to sustainable change is redefining how you think about yourself and the process of change itself, while introducing the 1% Rule to help you measure and celebrate progress.

Key Takeaways:

• The Problem with All-or-Nothing Thinking:
  • As high achievers and perfectionists, we often set lofty, unsustainable goals that lead to burnout and self-criticism.
  • Shame-based motivation might work temporarily but isn’t sustainable—it fades as you start to feel better.
• Identity-Based Change:
  • Real change happens when you focus on becoming the person who naturally embodies the habits and behaviors you desire.
  • Instead of focusing on perfect actions, focus on who you want to become and how she thinks, feels, and behaves.
• Change Is a Process, Not a Decision:
  • Progress is about practicing being the person you want to become and allowing setbacks to teach you.
  • Success comes from patience, learning, and steady forward momentum, not from expecting perfection overnight.
• The 1% Rule:
  • Measure progress in 1% increments. Focus on small, daily wins that compound over time.
  • Examples of small improvements: catching old thought patterns sooner, reducing the intensity of emotional reactions, or noticing a decrease in urges and temptations.

Action Steps:

1. Reframe Change as a Practice: Visualize the version of yourself who already embodies the habits and mindset you want. Practice showing up as her in small, meaningful ways each day.
2. Focus on 1% Progress: Celebrate even the smallest improvements. Over time, these incremental gains lead to exponential growth.
3. Learn from Setbacks: View failures as opportunities to learn and reinforce your motivation rather than signs of defeat.
4. Embrace Identity-Based Thinking: Shift your internal narrative to align with the person you want to become, rather than focusing on what you think you “should” be doing.

Homework: Spend a few moments today connecting with the version of yourself who is clear, confident, and aligned with your goals. Identify one area where you can improve by just 1% and commit to it. At the end of the day, reflect on what went well and what you learned from the process.

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