Today I’m speaking directly to you who are hungry for change. I’ll share some of my own experiences and then I’ll offer a couple of potential solutions and resources that will hopefully benefit you!
For many years, instead of being “hungry for change” I have been “patient for change.” I think there’s a lot of power in that–because we all have different seasons, and lots of challenges will naturally resolve themselves as we move through life.
But I believe that being patient for change only works if we are still able to thrive in the midst of that waiting period.
Sometimes those times where we’re trying to be patient can feel draining and unhealthy, and my personal goal is to have internal joy and peace–even when external circumstances are tricky.
Here are a couple of questions for you today:
(1) Is there anything you feel anxious, angry, or discouraged about—that you feel like you can’t change, but you are HUNGRY for change?
For example, maybe you feel like your life is always going to be cluttered or you’ll always feel overwhelmed. I used to feel stressed about tasks constantly.
The book Building a Non-Anxious Life is really good, and one thing it emphasizes is that anxiety is there FOR us. It’s the fire alarm saying that something is on fire. When we ignore it or sedate it, we aren’t putting out the fire.
Two examples for me from last year were my health—specifically my sleep apnea and stomachaches/food reactions I have had for years. Plus, I have had a hard time setting boundaries while working from home.
But I thought things couldn’t change. Doctors weren’t helping me with my physical struggles, and mentally, I felt guilty if I wasn’t always there for my family, etc.
(2) If the world depended on you solving that problem—not making someone else change, but making it so that you didn’t suffer the consequences anymore–what would you do?
The reason I ask that is because in most cases, there is either a change we can make in our heads or a coach who could help us (even via a book checked out from the library or a free podcast/video channel).
Here are a couple of solutions that have worked for me:
(1) The Feeling Great app
You’ve heard me talk about Dr. Burns’ books (linked below with the additional resources), but now he has a “Feeling Great” app that will take you through a cognitive behavioral therapy session based on the TEAM method, and it is SO good. I’m paying an annual fee, but they’ll even gift it to you if you can’t afford it.
It helps me see how most of the problems I face are truly in my head. Yes, there are struggles, but the problem is the way I am processing things.
New Year’s Day, for example, I thought I was going to have some quiet time to work, and then everyone’s schedules changed, and I started feeling frustrated with my surroundings. I explained my problem to the AI inside the app, and here’s a portion of what it told me (as we were practicing the “externalization of voices” method):
That was so helpful for me, so I stopped the pity party, I put on headphones and listened to some soft study music, and I happily did my work!
(2) Hiring a coach.
Health-wise, I wanted to feel better for years, but every year, I was kind of stuck in the same place. I was going to a bunch of doctors and trying a variety of things, but I started to lose trust in other people helping me, so I was trying to solve the problems on my own. I was able to “get by,” but I knew I needed more support if I was actually going to experience change.
Finally, I decided to hire a coach and commit to a health program. This past year was so good for me! Hiring that coach helped me to finally make progress and find the answers I needed.
Then this year, I noticed I still needed some coaching, so I signed up with another health coach, and it is SO worth the time and money.
Eric and I have also wanted to play the guitar for years. I have carried my guitar with me (through 10 moves) since college, and I still can’t play it very well. A few days ago, Eric and I bought an online guitar program, and we sat down to play today. We did a little “easy blues” sequence during our first lesson, and it was so fun!
Even though I had purchased a guitar instruction book and watched a few tutorials on YouTube, nothing was really sticking. Now we have high hopes!
I hope that these stories and ideas have given you some things to think about that can help you with your goals and changes this year. I know it’s not a comfortable situation when you’re hungry for change, but I do encourage you to invest in yourself so you can actually experience those changes and the growth you’re excited about.
Sending lots of love!!!
Related Links:
UPCOMING LIVE EVENT:
STEP Momentum is starting January 8th, 2025!
Click here for the full details!
Create Your Year (and Month, Week, and Day!) – Free Downloads
Books (Amazon Affiliate Links):
- Building a Non-Anxious Life by John Delony
- Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns
- When Panic Attacks by Dr. David Burns
- Feeling Great by Dr. David Burns
Sign up for our weekly update newsletter here!
Our ARISE membership – an amazing gathering place for community members that are using their Command Centrals to refine relationships, health, finances, individual purpose, and more. We focus on a new topic each month, and this is an amazing opportunity to receive coaching and support from Team LearnDoBecome. You can sign up for a free, 60-day trial here. 
April, you are so much fun. Love your simplicity, genuineness and vulnerability. I am very curious about what you say is your ‘higher power’. Would you please tell me more about that?
That is so kind of you, Suzy! Thanks for being here at LearnDoBecome! I wasn’t trying to be super vague about my Higher Power in the podcast, but because LearnDoBecome is designed to bring people together from all walks of life in a place where we can respect one another and build common ground, I typically try to use terms and phrases that the majority of people can relate to. I am personally a Christian, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/), so when I refer to my Higher Power, I am speaking of my Heavenly Parents, my Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I am grateful that here at LearnDoBecome we can learn and grow together and benefit from one another’s experiences and beliefs. Sending lots of love!
Lovely!! Sending lots of love to you too.
April,
What a terrific podcast! Thank you so much for passing along the concept of putting out fires of anxiety. I have recently been talking with my husband, daughters, mom, and niece about dealing with anxiety, and this new perspective will be another helpful layer in smothering the flames, so-to-speak.
I do have a question: which book would you recommend starting with for someone who has never read any of Dr. David Burns’ books–Feeling Good or Feeling Great?
As a Step Mastery member, I so appreciate the practical nature of all your suggestions and options! LDB always gives me a sense of agency and empowerment that gives me hope! Many thanks for this community and for all you do for others!
Thank you for the kind words and for all the great work you are doing in your home and family, Janice! Regarding the books, I would jump into “Feeling Great.” It’s shorter and updated with his latest methods–particularly the positive reframe. And honestly, the app is incredible. It’s not only helping me quickly get through any frustrations, worries, etc., but it’s helping me learn how to engage with others who are going through hard things. I strongly recommend the 7-day trial, and in my opinion, it is well worth the annual fee ($99 a year right now). Sending lots of love!
Many thanks, April! I plan to check out both the book and the app! Have a great weekend!