b'HEALTHBehavior Change That Lasts: The ABCsAnddonotbeconformedtothisworld,butbe Behavior:Whatapersondoes,thinks,or PausesBeforeyoudosomething,take3-5 transformed by the renewing of your mindfeelsinresponsetotheminutestoaskyourselfifitRomans 12:2 antecedent(s).isnecessary.IsitgoingtoConsequences:Thedndhelporharmyourattemptto By Erynn M. Burks, DrPH, CHES result of the habit that rein- change?forces or extinguishes it.ShapingShapingcanhelp easeyouintoanewbehavior E veryyearmillionsofpeoplemakeresolutionsFor example, if brushing yourover time. For example, if you to change something about themselves or theirteeth is the behavior, the ante- wanttoexercise60minutes lives.ManyoftheseNewYearsresolutionsarecedent is readying your tooth- perday,increaseyourdaily health-focusedjoin a gym, go on a diet, stop smok- brush and the consequence isexerciseby5minuteincre-ingbutbytheendofJanuarymostofushavehavingfreshbreathtostartments until you reach 60 min-given up on our well-intentioned plans. In fact, someyour day.utes.studies estimate that 80% of people fail to keep theirEveryhabitfollowsthis resolutions,butwhy?Thereasonissimple:ourthree-steppattern,forgoodTokensRewardyourself brains are hard-wired for habits and because of this,orforbad.Behavioralexpertswithagoldstareverytime behavior change is a difficult task. In order to changeestimate that a habit takes anyou successfully complete your our habits, we literally have to retrain our brains. average of 66 days to form, butnew behavior. When you have knowing that habits form fromacquired enough of tokens (e.g., Habit Formation 30stars),giveyourselfatan- Inbehavioralscience,habitsaredescribedinrepeated patterns is not near- giblereward(e.g.,movietick-termsoftheircomponentpartstheABCs.lyenoughtomakealastingets, new tools, a spa day, etc.). This acronym includes the following: change. If you want to stop aRemember, if your new behav-bad habit and replace it with aDr. Burks iorisfitness,weightloss,orAntecedents: The internal and external cues thatbetter one, you have to becomeeating-focused,donotreward signal initiation of the behavior.intentionalaboutmonitoringyourself with food.what you do. Createarelapseplan.Breakinganingrained Planning for Change habitishardworkandmistakeswillhappen. If you want to stop a badBefore you attempt to form a new habit, come upReviewingyourbehaviorchangeplan,repeat-with a strategy using the following tips: ingpositiveaffirmationsaboutyourabilityto change,andaskingforhelpfromfamilyand habit and replace it with Set your goal. Decide on a behavior you want tofriends can help you stay on track so that you replace with something better. Write it down sodo not become discouraged and undo all your a better one, you have toyou can see it. old habit for 1-2 weeks, keepingprogress.Observe your While behaviorchangecanbeachievedonyour become intentional abouttrack of the antecedents, behavior, and conse- own, working with a qualified practitioner can help quences. you create a detailed plan and help hold you account-monitoring what you do.Pick your strategies. Remember, the best plansable. If you are ready to make a positive change, visit use multiple behavior change strategies! MyCherryPointe.com to schedule an initial consult and become Happy, Healthy, Whole in 2020!FOOTSTEPS . continued from page 2Montgomery,whocouldhavebeen electedasthefirstblackmayorof Aurora.What is disappointing to me about the results of this election is not that Coffmanwonandwentagainsttwo blackmen,RyanFrazierandOmar Montgomery. I am disappointed that this is an example of what keeps hap-peningintheblackcommunityand black church, said Rev. Sims.WhywouldntFrazierandOmar come together as one. Why wouldnt one of them say look in this race, I am thestrongeronewithmorepeople, but with your people, I can win. If you have 30 percent of the vote and I have 30 percent of the vote, Coffman has 40 percent of the votethen we lose. So why not come together and merge.Rev. Eldridge SimsI will make you my right hand. Itisjustsadinourcommuni- fearingmanandarespecterofmen tiesthatwehaveintelligence,areanddesirestoseeunityamongour educated,wearenotpickingcottonpeople.anymore,raisedchildrenwhohaveAs he further states, Weve all fallen families, who have degrees and haveshort. But we should be able to con-achievedsuccess,areblessed-yetstructivelyputsomethingtogether wearestillourgreatestenemy.Wethat is going to make a difference in cantevencometogetherforacom- the lives of others.mon cause. Theproblemwithpreachersis Of course, John andPeter also hadEgos.Egosimplystandsforeasing thisproblemastheyarguedaboutGodout.WhenanEgogetsinthe who would sit on the left and the rightway, God is not present.of Jesus, Rev Sims pointed out.So Rev. Sims goal is to bring every- Living Hope Bible Church is located bodytogetherandhaveacitywideat 105 S. Moline, Aurora, Co. Worship revivalwhereallthepreachersandservicesareat10a.m.onSundays. pastorsarenottryingtooutshineFormoreinformationcall303-366-one another. They can speak for a few1471.minutesbysayingsomethingfrom God that will be inspiring.Rev. Sims considers himself a God-BODY OF CHRIST NEWS DECEMBER 2019 7'