might	benefit	from	additional	support	to	help	you	with	the	rougher	patches
(more	on	therapy	and	medication	in	
chapter	12
	
).	Give	yourself	compassion
for	going	toward	what’s	difficult,	and	for	not	giving	up.
The
	
Road	to	Progress	Isn’t	Always	Straight
Change	doesn’t	unfold	in	a	straight	line,	although	we	often	believe	it	should,
which	is	why	when	we	confront	setbacks	we	become	self-critical	and	start	to
doubt	ourselves.	This	kind	of	thinking	sabotages	progress	and	contributes	to
us	giving	up	entirely.
The	reality	is	that	setbacks	and	failures	along	the	path	to	change	are
inevitable	for	everyone.	Our	brains	have	the	miraculous	ability	to	rewire,	to
grow,	to	change;	however,	our	brains	also	cling	to	what’s	become	habit.	This
contradictory	tension	means	change	does	not	come	immediately	or	without
effort.	Sustained	change,	the	kind	that	really	makes	a	difference,	takes	time
and	consistency.
Each	time	you	hit	a	roadblock,	instead	of	self-criticism	and	self-defeat,