I used to think something magical had to happen for life to change—but it didn’t. It was small, boring choices made over and over again.
Why Real Change Feels So Hard
We all want to change something. Maybe you feel stuck in bad habits. Maybe you’ve tried to eat healthy, pray more, quit smoking, or stop wasting time—but every time you start, life gets in the way. You lose motivation. You mess up once and feel like it’s all over.
I know that cycle. I lived it.
For years, I bounced between binge eating, gaming all night, skipping workouts, and feeling completely lost. I’d start strong on Monday, then fall back into old patterns by Wednesday. I told myself I just needed more willpower or a perfect plan.
The truth? Change doesn’t need a perfect plan. It needs honesty and consistency.
You Don’t Have to Be Perfect
Perfection is a trap. So many people give up because they mess up once. You eat a pizza when you’re trying to eat clean. You waste a day watching YouTube. You skip your workout or forget to pray. Then the guilt kicks in and says, “See, you’ll never change.”
But here’s what I’ve learned firsthand: change isn’t about not messing up. It’s about getting back up after you do.
When I lost over 110 pounds, I didn’t do it with a perfect diet. I ate cake at birthdays. I missed some workouts. I had days I wanted to quit. The key was not quitting. I didn’t allow a mistake to become a full reset. I just took the next right step.
That’s what real change looks like—messy, slow, and full of small wins.
Start With One Small Step
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s the best advice I can give you: start small. Really small. Pick one thing and make it your goal for the week. Not the month. Not forever. Just the week.
Here are a few examples:
- Want to work out? Start with 5 push-ups a day.
- Want to eat better? Swap one bag of chips for an apple.
- Want to pray more? Start with 3 minutes a day.
- Want to be productive? Work deeply for just 30 minutes a day.
These small shifts are how I rebuilt my life. I didn’t become healthy and focused overnight. I started waking up a little earlier. I went on 10-minute walks. I replaced snacks with better choices. I didn’t aim for 2-hour gym sessions. I just did enough to feel proud.
That pride? It builds momentum.
Create a Rhythm That Works for You
One thing that helped me stick to change was finding a daily rhythm.
I learned this wasn’t about having a strict schedule. It was about making time for the things that mattered. For me, that’s:
- 2 to 4 hours of deep work in the morning
- Movement every day (walk or workout)
- Prayer and reflection, especially in the evening
- Gratitude journaling (just 3 good things)
This rhythm helped me feel grounded. When I felt tempted to fall back into distractions—gaming, binge eating, or doom-scrolling—I had something better to turn to.
You don’t need to copy my routine. Start with just one block of focused time. One walk. One prayer. One journal entry. Build your rhythm around what helps you feel alive, not just busy.
Celebrate the Wins (Even the Tiny Ones)
One thing we often skip when trying to change is this: celebration.
We wait to feel worthy until we lose 20 pounds, finish the whole Bible, run a marathon, or become millionaires. But the truth? You're already on the path when you start. Every choice in the right direction is a win, and you should treat it like one.
When I started journaling daily, I’d write down three wins. Some days it was big—like crushing a workout. Other days it was simple, like drinking enough water or turning off my phone early.
These tiny wins rewired my brain. They told me, “You’re changing.” Even when progress felt slow, those wins kept me going.
Faith Gave My Life Meaning, Not Just Motivation
There’s something else I need to share. When I was fighting my old habits—especially the ones that made me feel ashamed—I realized I couldn’t do it alone. I needed something deeper. Something bigger than myself.
That’s when I found strength in leaning into my Christian Orthodox faith.
Faith became more than just a belief. It became the lens through which I began to see everything. My struggles weren’t random. They were tools that could lead me closer to God. When I prayed, fasted, or read Scripture, I wasn’t just checking a box. I was reconnecting with my purpose.
If you’re trying to change but keep feeling empty, maybe what you’re missing isn’t a better plan. Maybe it’s a stronger connection to the One who created you.
That shift changed everything for me. It filled the space that self-help books and gym sessions couldn’t.
You’re Not Alone, and You Don’t Have to Do It All Today
If you take anything from this, let it be this: you don’t need to change everything at once. Take it one small step, one honest choice, and one day at a time.
I’m still on the journey. I still slip up. I still have days where I feel tired or discouraged. But I also have hope—and that’s enough.
So what’s your one small step?
Pick it today. Write it down. Do it tomorrow. Then again the next day.
You don’t need to wait until Monday. You don’t need to wait until you're “ready.”
You’re ready now, just as you are.
And if you ever need someone to remind you—you’re not failing, you’re growing—I’m here, cheering you on every step of the way.
