Habits usually aren’t changed overnight. They take some patience in undoing. But the good news is this: by simply changing one small part of a pattern (i.e., habit), you open up the possibility for great change to happen organically. “From now on” proclamations often just set us up for failure. In fact, those three words sometimes act as a shovel, digging us deeper into the rut we despise.

Instead, make one small change. Don’t make a big deal about it. No big announcement is needed. Just one small change. You’ll find that any disruption to the pattern stops the rut from getting deeper.

Once you put the shovel down, you can extend a hand to help direct the habit down the stairs…and out the door for good.