Have you ever wondered about what it takes to change your habits?

Do you “know” what you need to do but find it difficult or near impossible to actually put those changes into practice?

Then read on because I’ve got a few simple, yet, powerful ideas to help you out…

Here’s what Jennifer from Texas writes:

“What sort of actions can a person take to change their habits? I mean, I understand that awareness is the biggest part of the solution. However, I currently do the same stuff over and over.

Even though I want to come home to fix gourmet dinners for my husband with relaxing jazz music playing over the Bose system, I am so tired when I get home. Or at least that is what I tell myself everyday.

I have all of the tools to fix these dinners, but I don’t want to put forth the effort because, in all honesty, I probably don’t want to spend the time and then have to clean up the mess.

In my perfect world, I see myself as a woman who has a good paying job (just got this a few months ago - a 50% increase that I never thought I would get) who keeps a clean house (I never make the time to clean), takes pride in her appearance (I have not been doing this for a few years) and cooks wonderful romantic dinners for 2 (I have all of the cookware and nice china, I just don’t use them).

So, you see - I have all of the tools to make this happen, but I cannot get out of my rut!

I have read your book and I love it. I even took notes and put it in my “lifestyle book.” I just need help figuring out how to implement these changes in a way that it will stick!”

Ooooh. This is SUCH a juicy question Jennifer. It’s bursting with opportunities for transformation.

And while I could write about this for days, I’ll keep it brief and give you what you need to get started!

Here are three key places for you to look:

1) You said “I’m so tired when I get home. At least that’s what I tell myself”

BINGO Jennifer! The voice in your head tells you you’re tired and you listen to it and BELIEVE it to be true.

What if that voice in your head isn’t you? What if you just THINK it’s you? What if most of what it says is pure kaka?

I’ve discovered that voice in your head is simply an annoying little radio station that likes to whine, complain and suck the juice out of your life.

The biggest thing you need to understand is the voice in your head is simply a recording of old ideas, thoughts and beliefs you’ve absorbed over time. It’s not YOU. It’s just something you listen to.

It’s not relevant to the brilliant woman you are today UNLESS you fall prey to the myth that it is YOU. You’ve got to stop listening to that thing and taking it so darn seriously.

(Haven’t you noticed it says the same crap day in and day out??)

Next time you hear the voice say, “I’m so tired.” Take a moment and REALLY look. Are you?

Do you need to lie down immediately? Or are you just so conditioned to believe what the voice says that you’ve become a slave to it?

The other thing is this: complaining is exhausting. If you complain throughout your day about well…everything, you will have no energy by the time you come home.

My gut tells me you’ve got a little complaint monster in there that likes to disagree with things. Stop complaining PERIOD and I guarantee you’ll have a ton more energy - more than you’ll ever know what to do with!

2) You said, “I don’t want to because honestly I don’t want to put forth the time and effort and then clean up the mess.”

Another aspect of your “issue” is that you haven’t realized that you can’t stand being told what to do- especially by yourself.

You see, around 2-years-old, we humans develop this lovely little habit of saying: “No! Don’t tell me what to do!” to our parents
and any other apparent authority figure.

It’s a toddler’s strategy to declare their independence from the “big people.”

(If you have kids, or have ever been a kid - you know exactly what I’m talking about.)

The problem is, most of us NEVER outgrow this childhood “strategy for success” and are then run by this mechanical, inner “no”!

Even things WE say we want to do, in our heads the voice says, “Don’t tell me what to do!” and we LISTEN to it and believe it!

(Can you see a pattern here?) Want true independence? Declare your independence from the voice in your head.

Break free from that bratty little “2-year-old Jennifer” inside who wants to ruin all your fun. Let the brilliant, sexy, adult woman out to play.

3) Finally, remember you have options. Now that you’ve got this awesome 50% raise, why not make your life a little
easier?

When you truly are too tired to cook, order out. Get out the nice china, light some candles and play the jazz .

Of course, you’ll cook some nights, but stop putting this pressure on yourself to do it every night.

Save the cooking for times it feels like FUN. The other thing is this: hire a cleaning person girlfriend! There is no need for
you to do everything all by yourself.

Even if you have someone help you clean once every two weeks, it will create a lot more time for you and give someone additional work and income to another family.

I rely on a fantastic team of people to help me run my life. They all get to do what they love,
they get paid well (great for the economy!) and it gives me more time to spend on what’s truly important to me.

And finally Jennifer, have FUN and stop being so hard on yourself. If you want your life to transform, you’ve got to start being kind to YOU. That’s the secret to put transformation on super speed.

And speaking of putting your transformation on super speed, if you loved my book in hard copy, you’re going to LOVE it as an audio book!

That’s right. The Make Every Man Want You Audio book is now ready (woo hoo!)

We’ve been working away to make it available to you in MP3 downloadable format so you can put it on your Ipod, burn it to CDs and listen in your car OR just listen from the comfort of your computer.

You can find out all the details and download it immediately here:

http://www.marieforleo.com/audiobook/index.html

I’m really excited about it - it turned out awesome! So if you’re an audio person and like to listen your way to a brilliant life,
go ahead and learn about the new audio book here:

http://www.marieforleo.com/audiobook/index.html

Have a fantastic weekend and I look forward to talking more with you again soon.

With love,

Marie

PS: If you’ve got a question you’d like me to answer in an upcoming issue, send it on baby! Email info@marieforleo.com with your * brief * and concise questions.