Why Habit Change Begins with Kind Awareness
The Power of Being Present
To be present isn’t just to sit in silence or take deep breaths. It’s to observe, experience and choose, moment by moment, to actually live inside your life—not just perform it.
Mindfulness is the practice of awareness without judgment. It’s noticing your thoughts, your feelings, your actions, and your intentions with curiosity and compassion.
When you begin practicing this kind of presence, something shifts. Life stops feeling like a blur and starts feeling like yours again. You reconnect with your choices, reclaim your voice, and begin changing not just your habits, but your relationship with yourself.
How Mindfulness Transforms Habit Change
Without mindfulness, habit change often becomes temporary. We try to force new routines while ignoring the emotions underneath them, and as soon as we find interruptions or resistance, we go back to what we are used to.
When mindfulness becomes part of the change process, a beautiful interaction begins between your experiences, habits, and beliefs.
Sometimes it starts small: your experiences begin to shift gently, which naturally influences your habits. Once your habits change, your beliefs follow—and new beliefs create new experiences. Other times, life itself shakes a belief loose, prompting you to seek out new experiences that reinforce your evolving truth. That, in turn, leads to a new rhythm of living.
I experienced this firsthand as a child.
When I was around 7 or 8 years old, there was a small store right next to our house that sold only dairy products. My favorite treat was a chocolate milkshake made with whipping cream, chocolate milk, and whole milk. I had heard my whole life that milk was essential for strong bones and healthy growth—so that became my belief.
Fueled by this idea, I happily went every day to that store for my milkshake. It brought me joy. Over time, this became a daily habit.
But after a few months, my stomach began to hurt—a lot. Eventually, my mom called the doctor. What he said changed everything:
"How can milk produced for a calf that weighs 50 pounds at birth and grows to 1,000 pounds in a year possibly be ideal for growing children?"
In that moment, my belief was disrupted.
From that point on, my daily milkshake ritual came to an end. Instead, my mom started making me fresh fruit smoothies at home, healthier, easier on my body, and still delicious. That new experience became a new habit.
What shifted first was awareness.
And that awareness shifted my belief, created knew experiences that lead to healthier habits that lead to healing as the stomach ache went away.
When Habits come from a place of love, not shame, Mistakes become information, not failures, and Progress feels gentle, not demanding, this is how healing happens—not through pressure, but through compassionate presence.
Concrete and Consistent Steps
Here’s how you can begin building habits that heal—with clarity, mindfulness, and results that last:
Start with One Breath a Day
Pause before a habitual action (checking your phone, grabbing a snack, reacting emotionally).
Take one breath. Ask: What am I feeling?
This rewires impulsivity into awareness.
Name the Pattern Gently
Instead of “I always mess this up,” shift to: “I notice I tend to do this when I’m overwhelmed.”
Naming a pattern with kindness removes shame and opens the door to change.
Create Rituals, Not Just Routines
Turn ordinary habits into moments of care.
Ritual adds meaning and makes habits feel nourishing—not draining.
Track Feelings, Not Just Actions
Instead of only counting steps or streaks, notice your emotional experience:
This builds intrinsic motivation rather than external pressure.
Practice Forgiveness Daily
When a habit slips, respond like this:
“I see you. You’re trying. Let’s begin again.”
Forgiveness keeps the door open. Punishment closes it.
Results You’ll Begin to Experience
When people practice presence through habit change, they often say:
“I respond instead of react—and my relationships feel different.”
“I’m making changes that actually stick, without burning out.”
“My self-talk has softened. I feel like I’m starting to really love myself.”
You don’t need more discipline. You need a moment to pause. A breath. A guide.
If you're ready to build habits that come from clarity and care, I’d love to walk beside you.
Let’s make change feel like coming home—to whom you really are!
In presence and gratitude,
Life and Health Coach
Massage Therapist and Energy Worker
Educator
