Reflection

So much has happened in the past seven months. I have learned more about my own personal nature than I probably ever wanted to know. I learned through research what barriers are common amongst those struggling with change, and how to overcome them. I then spent the next six and a half months applying what I learned as I tried to make my own changes and improvements. I have found through this whole time that at times I have failed, often I have succeeded, and other times I have fallen somewhere in between. But through it all, I have gained important insights into what I would like to bring to my patients in those times when they need me.

When I was at my lowest and failed my personal goals by overeating or ignoring my plank goal for the day, what helped me the most was accepting that I was weak in that moment and forgiving myself. By remembering that I am a fallible human, it helped me to have self-compassion and forgive myself which then helped me to pick myself back up and try again. I found that even though I relapsed, because I forgave myself and let it go, I continued to make progress. I progressed more than I regressed. In my research there is some helpful information from a psychologist I talked with named Micheal Ochi who taught that self-acceptance is needed and that relapses are normal when old habits are being broken. This principle from him has helped me to continue on even after failing time and time again. It is a principle that I will bring to my patients when they are in the darkness of self-hate as they give up on themselves.
I have gained insight into just how hard it is to break eating habits. It is hard! The appetites of our bodies are strong and constant. To resist is difficult, and the last principle from the “Tricks for Installing Good Habits” page specifies the need for being patient as the neurological pathways of our brains are being rewired. It takes time. And when something takes time, it also takes patience as well. I will try to help my future patients to be patient with themselves and not give up on themselves too soon. (Not give up ever, actually). At times it is with our own selves that we are the least patient with, but patience is something irreplaceable when forming new habits. Because overeating is linked with obesity, helping my patients to change eating habits will be a very important thing that I would like to do because it will help them to prevent future illness and disease. I feel that I understand those that struggle with that kind of thing better now, and I will take care to teach them to be patient and forgiving with themselves as they seek to form better habits.
Another huge take away that I have learned from this is that small changes and small choices MATTER. Over time, a small drop of water every second on a rock will carve a hole. Over time, saying no to one desert, then saying no to one cookie, then saying yes to one carrot can change food preferences and body weight. I am amazed to say this, but it is true, that small changes and choices that occur daily can be more influential than a big change that only occurs once every year. Never dismiss the power of small changes. They matter. That is why I will teach my patients to rejoice over the small achievements and changes that they make. Because they are officially changing their future when they do that.

There are other things that I will apply in my future practice as a nurse from what I have learned as I did this project. I won’t go more into depth here, but I will continue to think and ponder about these things as time goes on. Memories may fade, but learning continues on with us in our actions. My learning from this EDGE project will remain with me because I will apply it. This project has been a wonderful learning experience for me, one which I am grateful for and will continue to look back on with fondness.