Have you noticed that when things are bad, we start looking for answers and taking action on things, but when things return to being good, we go back to doing nothing again?

When we have pain that persists, we say, "I need to get to a doctor," but if the pain goes away, we may forget to make that appointment and return back to the status quo.

Emotional pain is no different. When things get really tough, we vouch that we will call that coach or get to that therapist, and we are eager to do the work they suggest to make the changes we want to see.

We show up for our sessions, we do the assignments, we do the journaling, we set aside time for ourselves and our self-care, and we explore the inner workings of our minds to make better choices for our lives. But then, life settles down. The emotional pain quiets a bit, and with it, so does our resolve to take the actions we were taking toward our results.

The brain tricks us into thinking that things are fine again - no action is required! Until they are not fine again, we are right back where we started because NO real change has occurred.

Some of us are in this cycle our entire life and never quite commit to staying in the ACTION that will move us forward.

We commit to better results for a while.

We learn new information and options for a while.

We do things differently and try new practices for a while.

This is why only when things really hurt do people take action toward getting them fixed!  This is what I call the Peaks and Valley Syndrome. When you're in the valley, you are deep in the pain, and you are committed to doing something about it. But when you're back up at the peak, things seem fine, and you forget that you were ever committed.

Commitment is the ONE thing you need to have the life you desire.

Going to the gym and exercising for three months only to return to sitting on the sofa and never moving again will never get you the body you desire.

Similarly, getting the emotional support you need for a while, implementing mindset changes for a while, and creating time for your emotional well-being for a while, only to go back to working your life away and never paying attention to your emotional clues, will never get you the life you desire.

Ultimately, you will have a life that reflects what you were committed to.

What's it going to be for you?

 💖