Are you ready for a change? Do you want greater rewards and results? Changing bad habits is often the first step in your journey to creating the life you want and seeing all your dreams become a reality.

Changing a habit can be challenging. Since bad habits weren't formed overnight, you cannot expect them to change instantly. But, when results do not come quickly enough, do you become discouraged and give up? Do you feel like you are trapped in the vicious cycle of wanting to change, yet finding yourself reverting back to your old ways after only a few days or weeks?

Going from simply wanting to change to actually taking action and staying committed long enough for that change to happen can be extremely difficult. Replacing a bad habit with a good one takes time, dedication, and determination. It takes letting go of the past, looking to the future, and treating each day as a fresh start and a new opportunity for success.

If you are stuck in a rut and feel like you are spinning your tires, the only way out is to give yourself a push - to stop doing what you have always done and start doing something different so you can move forward and begin working toward achieving your goals.

Before you start, it is important to realize that real, quality change will take about 90 days. That may seem like a long time, but if you really want to see better results and greater rewards, then it may be one of the best things you will ever do for yourself. 90 days really can change your life!

When changing bad habits, understanding the stages you will go through and the challenges you will face, will prepare you for the journey and help prevent you from becoming weary or discouraged.

Every new decision begins with a sense of excitement. You are proud of yourself because you are doing something to change your life and you can't wait to see the results. Unfortunately, your subconscious will try to sabotage your efforts, and when you don't see instant rewards you will want to quit and go back to the comfort and security of what you have always done.

It is way too easy to slip back into your old habits, and if you don't catch yourself, you may be giving up just before you see a breakthrough. To prevent this from happening, decide to treat yourself to something special when you make it successfully through this stage, usually at about the five week mark. If you have a little incentive, you may be less likely to quit.

If you can survive these first tough five weeks, you will begin to notice a reformation in your behavior. You will start to settle into a new way of doing things and begin to see results and rewards. Stick to it for the full 90 days, and you will have formed a new pattern that will change your life!

Remember, some habits change faster than others, so learn to recognize the stages and prepare yourself to persevere. You can also make the change more effective and increase the possibility of it being a long-term pattern by understanding the important influences in your life.

People: It is important to surround yourself with people who have the habits that you desire and avoid those people who encourage the bad habits that you are trying to change. The people you choose to spend time with influence you, motivate you, and cause you to develop certain behaviors so you fit into their group. Finding people who will help you become who you want to be is a vital step in making changes in your life.

Environment: Make sure you change your environment to support your desired way of doing things, and stay away from situations or things that will continue to perpetuate the bad habits. If you are trying to eat better and take care of your health, avoid fast food restaurants, or remove the junk food from your home and replace it with healthier choices. That way, when you try to sneak a midnight snack, your options will all support your efforts to make a positive change.

Rewards: Give yourself a pat on the back once in a while. How you see and treat yourself is one of the strongest influences in your ability to stick to a decision and achieve your desires. Set a goal and allow yourself a reward when you reach it. Since it typically takes 90 days to form a new habit, why not treat yourself after 30 days, then again after 60 days, and then decide on something extra special when you reach the 90 day milestone?

Forgive: Forgiveness is very influential and powerful. If you are too hard on yourself, you are more likely to become discouraged and give up. Remember, when you slip and revert back to your old habits, all is not lost. Simply admit that you relapsed, forgive yourself, and continue on toward your goal. Accepting that you are not perfect will allow you to realize that perfection is not necessary for success. Determination, commitment, and the ability to move on even when you make a mistake will have you realizing your dreams in just 90 days.

Do you have something in your life that you have been wanting to change?

Do you dream of living better or feeling better about yourself?

Today is day number 1.

Begin your journey of changing bad habits to good ones, and see how 90 days really can change your life!