Why is Change So Hard - even when we want it?
It’s easy to get discouraged when it feels like our efforts aren’t leading to quick enough results. But most meaningful change takes time—and it happens beneath the surface long before we see it.
Why can change be so hard—even when we desperately want things to be different?
This was part of an interesting conversation I had this week with an ND colleague and friend, and it really got me thinking about what I see every day in my practice.
Because the truth is:
Most of us already know what to do. It’s the doing that feels hard.
Manage stress.
Eat more protein.
Strength train.
Drink more water.
Take your supplements consistently.
Get to bed earlier.
We know these things help us feel better… and yet change still feels uncomfortable, even when the change is good.
I see this with my naturopathic patients and with my FASTer Way clients. The excitement is real in the beginning—new routines, new hope. Then life happens, motivation dips, and even the simplest habits start to feel heavy. (It happens to me too.)
But here’s the part of our conversation that stuck with me:
Growth requires stress.
Just like bone gets stronger through the micro-stress of strength training, we get stronger through the small stresses of change: choosing protein at breakfast, taking your supplements, drinking your water, lifting heavier, showing up for yourself when it would be easier not to.
Avoiding that stress doesn’t just keep us stuck—over time, we actually deteriorate.
And yes, doing these things can feel “hard.” But so does feeling depleted, inflamed, or out of balance. We can’t avoid hard in life — but we do get to choose which hard we are going to focus on.
As we move into the holidays, remember:
You don’t need to press pause on your health. You can enjoy food and family without abandoning the habits that support you. And when January comes, skip the extreme resets. What you need is a sustainable plan that fits real life—not a perfect life.
I’d love to hear from you:
What’s one “hard thing” you’ve faced that ultimately led to real growth?
And what’s one area of your health where you feel you could use some support to gently challenge yourself next? This is the work I love doing with women: giving you a clear, effective plan to get you where you want to go, and helping you navigate the hard with clarity, compassion, and - when needed - a bit of tough love (always given in the kindest way ).
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can book a consult with me here..