The greatest challenge any instructor/teacher/coach/professor/etc has is to instill their wisdom in others and to see them making choices based upon that learning. It can be even more difficult when the student has preconceived notions about a topic or a closed mind. It is even more difficult for a student to change, especially when it is about a habit that is a part of their daily routine.

As I have been thinking about how to create a good financial program that changes lives, I thought about my own preconceived notions and even my own change in my health lifestyle.

Along with financial fitness we are pushing personal fitness. The whole Nevada Benefits staff has been charged with wearing pedometers that track our daily activity and have been told to change our eating habits. The program demands we Move, Eat, and Live. We have constant low level activity, we eat real food (getting rid of processed food and sugars), and going outside and enjoying life. This program isn't like most health programs. It is changing your lifestyle along with changing what you do. The biggest challenge I am having with is is that it demands I change my entire diet and eating habits. I think everyone has a good understanding of what foods are healthy. There is a part of us that knows how to live a good healthy life as well, yet there is a dichotomy between what we know and what we do. I think the reason we all ignore this knowledge is because we are sidetracked by the things that satisfy us at the moment. We are also so addicted to things we don't know we are addicted to subconsciously. I have found that one of these things for me is sugar. It is in almost everything I eat!

So the biggest question I have for this program is how to affect such a change in people that they want to act and want to change. I want people to realize even the subconscious addictions and learn to overcome them. I am learning that my addiction to sugar runs deeper than I thought. I fill myself up on good food and can't eat another bite, but yet still don't feel satisfied until that sugar treat is in my belly to top it off. It clearly isn't a physical need, but mental. In order to succeed I need to put off the temporary want and keep with the long term goal. Financial fitness requires the same discipline.

What kind of things are like sugar in your financial world? Maybe it's the extra large soda you don't need or the fast food stop when you are just 5 minutes from home. Maybe it's the family member who wants the new toy or your own want for a new toy. We have unlimited wants and desires. It seems like the more money we have the more we're able to spend. So lets try to find that financial addiction and focus on that first. As we eliminate it, we will force ourselves to change our subconscious like never before. The rest of the plan will just seem natural, like I am doing with walking and being more active.