The small change ABC-123 Strategy: Turn Your Wellness Goals into Achievable Plans

“Self-care is never a selfish act. It is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on Earth to offer to others.”  Parker Palmer

We all want to be well. However, whether it’s adjusting to life’s inevitable twists and turns or learning to manage a chronic condition, there are two basic reasons many of us struggle: 1) We don’t know what to do, or 2) We set overly ambitious, unrealistic goals, and when we miss the mark, we get discouraged and quit.

Nothing stops you in your tracks like discouragement; it’s the precursor to defeat and an invitation for dis-ease to sneak in and negatively impact your well-being, often without you realizing it.

But I've developed a way to counter giving up: The small change ABC-123 Strategy, a clear and straightforward tactic that puts you on the pathway to wellness, and keeps you there.

The technique helped me recover from heartbreak and loss twenty-nine years ago, and back in 2017, it guided my daughter Mia’s stroke rehabilitation. The strategy simplifies achieving goals and works for anyone who can read, write, and count. It also drives the success of every tool in the small change Toolkit.

Three simple steps characterize the basic ABC-123 approach:

1) Acknowledge your desire to change. My decision to never again experience the pain I felt after heartbreak and loss almost three decades ago was all the motivation I needed.

2) Believe you have the power to change. Belief fueled the process. I believed I had the power to change, and knew that having a strong “I can” attitude was a must if I wanted to accomplish my goal!

3) Commitment bridges the gap between wanting to change and actually making it happen. Once I committed to doing whatever it took to avoid revisiting that pathway of hurt, shame, and loneliness, universal laws lined things up in my favor.

I discovered a healthier way to cope with life's uncertainties through gratitude journaling. Each day, counting my blessings helped me feel better. As my list grew, I began to recognize the unique gifts of gratitude, and gradually regained the confidence I needed to forge ahead.

Did I continue to face challenges? Absolutely—that’s life. But thanks to the virtues of gratitude and the power of the pen, I can say with confidence that I will never revisit those dark days of despair again.

Now, I apply the ABC-123 method to any short- or long-term goal I want to accomplish, and you can do the same. You don’t have to know “how” you'll get there - let the universe do that for you- but you must have some idea of “what” you want to accomplish.

And when it comes to achieving health and well-being (or any goal), here’s what matters most: "you must know before you can do." So, if you know what to do to "Be Well," consider yourself blessed and do it. Your body will thank you for it.

If you’re stuck or unsure, ask for help. There is no shame in not knowing (none of us know everything); the shame is in recognizing that you don’t know and refusing to take advantage of opportunities to learn.

What’s stopping you from living your dreams? Whatever it is, I’m ready to get you started. Email me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com to begin your ABC-123 journey today.

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Next week, I'll share my ABC-123 template that can be applied to any goal you want to achieve.

In the meantime, Be Grateful, Be Well!