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Midweek #3

 Midweek #3

"I can have fun on a school night!" was originally written for people in the Helping Professions (teachers, nurses, social workers, counsellors, etc.). However, over the years with many rewrites and six reprints, I realized the concepts in the book applied to most everybody and so Finding Balance: 101 concepts for taking better care of self reflects that change.

Most of the concepts, insights, and stories in the book are the result of the creative interaction between my clients and myself. Time in therapy has often been reduced by an on-target teaching concept, such as those that fill the pages of this book. These concepts help 'cut to the chase' inviting understanding and insight with a minimum of verbiage.

(See testimonials for Finding Balance: 101 concepts for taking better care of self :  under Site Navigation)

Would it be too much to ask for you to share Midweek with others on your email list?
Midweek copies #1 & #2 can be found at

Today a Choice, Tomorrow a Lifestyle

Behavior, or what we actually do, comes from the ability and the
right to make a choice. We can choose to work out or not work out.
I can phone somebody that I need to phone or choose not to phone
them. Pay bills or not pay bills. None of this is extremely profound, but
it is interesting, particularly if we understand that many people don't
feel they have the ability, right, or opportunity to make choices. Even if
I don't consciously use my power and right to choose, I am still
choosing. To choose to do nothing is still a choice.

I've discovered that if I don't make a conscious choice to do or not
do something in three consecutive days-if I just let it go, or if I
procrastinate in making a choice-I am, in effect, still making a choice
for a different kind of lifestyle. Can I choose not to go for a walk today?
Sure, it's a choice, but it's not a lifestyle change. My lifestyle can still
include walking. The second day, can I choose not to go walking? Yes,
because I still haven't taken walking out of my lifestyle. However, if on
the third day I choose not to go walking, I have made a commitment,
a definite move into the area of changing a lifestyle.

So, do we want the choice of not working out on a certain day or
eating a piece of chocolate cake every once in a while or just relaxing
and not driving ourselves so hard on certain days? Yes! But I warn careful what you choose, because as innocent, pleasant, or
necessary as it may seem, before you know it, in just three days, it can
become a permanent lifestyle change.

It is also important for you to remember that when making changes,
what you start doing is more important than what you stop doing

Remember-three consecutive days begins a new lifestyle habit.

Purchase On-line
You can purchase a copy of Dan's new book by clicking this link: (Under Site Navigation) at McNally Robinson and other fine book stores.