I Knew the Changes I Wanted to Make, but How Could I Find the Motivation?

By Zoey Diede

Church Magazines

My big lifestyle changes weren’t sustainable—instead, change came little by little.

a young adult looking up at a mountain she’s trying to climb

I knew the changes my life needed.

I should be studying my scriptures deeply. I should be exercising regularly. I should participate in hobbies I once loved. These were all things that would improve my spiritual, physical, and mental health. I knew that—that’s what I was taught from a young age.

But I just couldn’t bring myself to do them.

Why? Because the changes required a major shift in my lifestyle, and I couldn’t sustain them.

I’d try and fail. Things would go well for a week or two, and then I would fall back into old habits. So, I decided to take a more gradual approach—one step at a time, “line upon line” (2 Nephi 28:30). With that in mind, I focused on truths of slow, sustainable goal setting:

1. Find your first foundational step.

Routine is vital to me, and I noticed my mornings and nights felt rushed and unproductive. I was often tired and didn’t accomplish everything I needed to. To make a change, I started with an important, foundational habit that set up a good pattern for me to continue changing.

For me, the foundational step was my bedtime. I set a goal to read scriptures at night and to go to bed earlier. Over the course of several weeks, I shifted my bedtime by one hour per week. I made a conscious effort to stick to this plan and be consistent.

My efforts weren’t perfect every night, but over time, I began to notice a significant improvement. I shifted my bedtime by several hours, and with that, I was able to get more sleep than ever before. And once I was better rested, it was easier to incorporate scripture study.

This method of changing my habits did wonders for me, so I started using it in other areas of my life. I started working on things like my temple attendance, exercise and nutrition, and hobbies. One good habit can lead to forming more good habits. Figuring out what foundational habit you want to create can help you start on the path to healthy change.

2. Break the goal into smaller steps.

Breaking my goals down into steps made them seem smaller and more manageable. For one week, I would focus on a small aspect of my goal and discuss my progress with my husband. The following week, I would add another small aspect. If I stopped, I knew I had added too much too quickly, so I would go back to the previous step that I had already mastered.

Elder Michael A. Dunn of the Seventy taught that focusing on becoming “one percent better” is the key to success: “Will little adjustments work that ‘mighty change’ [Alma 5:14] that you desire? Properly implemented, I’m 99 percent certain they will!” One percent, over a long period of time, can make a big difference in your life.

However, Elder Dunn also emphasized that for these small gains to build, they require consistent effort. “Although we won’t likely be perfect,” he said, “we must be determined to mirror our persistence with patience. Do that, and the sweet rewards of increased righteousness will bring you the joy and peace you seek.”

3. Realize repentance is gradual change.

Repentance is change, and like all change, repentance is a process. Making these small changes every week helped me experience the joy of repentance. I felt supported and empowered by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, which improved my quality of life drastically.

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind.”

If you want to make changes in your life, start small—just one percent at a time. You will feel the joy that comes with becoming better, and over time, those small efforts will add up to significant transformation.

My motivation for change has increased with these principles. I have implemented many small changes, but over time, the impact of small acts has been large. Becoming better and increasing motivation will be a lifelong pursuit, not a one-time event.

Take one step at a time, press forward with faith, and you too can start to feel motivated to change.