It's hard to not be emotionally and spiritually moved by springtime.  It seems as if everything is suddenly being reborn.  At first you notice the air doesn't have the same bite to it.  Shortly after that, the trees start coming to life again and sprout buds that will soon become leaves.  Plants in the ground start to sprout, and soon the ugly tan of late winter is replaced with the vibrant green of springtime.  The birds return and start building nests. Animals of all shapes and sizes breathe a little easier knowing that the harshness of winter is gone.

With all this positive change occurring, springtime can be a good model for all of us.  Rebirth and growth can occur with us also.  Not only that, it should be a part of the natural cycle of our lives.  Every so often maybe we should do a little spring cleaning on the old health behaviors and negative thoughts and emotions that do us harm.

Research on Behavior Modification shows that small changes are tolerated best and can last the longest.  Think today on what little changes you can make to better your health.  Are you in a rut with your daily routine?  Do you eat the same sorts of things everyday?  Do you suffer the same lack of activity everyday?  Do you not get enough sleep each night?  Do you feel emotionally isolated each day?  What small things could you do to positively change these situations?

American Health Culture is very extreme right now.  What I have found is that the people that follow this "all-or-nothing" philosophy often lose motivation in a few months.  The ones that persist are the ones that have made small changes to their health and in doing so still kept their lives livable.  They didn't make so many extreme changes that they couldn't maintain it long-term, and that is the goal. 

When you feel that you're struggling, take some time and find a quiet place.  Take several deep breaths in.  In your mind, visualize the rebirth of spring.  Then visualize rebirth in your own life.  Visualize yourself eating right, exercising every so often, using positive language, interacting with new people, doing new things, and most of all visualize what it'd be like to be the healthiest you can possibly be.

Change can happen and what better time of year?