I confess that traditional diets just didn't work for me.  "Diet is die with a T!" was my mantra.  Who wants to  die?  Or who wants to live with echoing voices repeating,  "Cut back!"  "Put that down!"  Don't eat sweets!"  "Control your portions!" And the real killer: "Don't eat so much bread!"  (And if that means, bagels, forget it!) "Thou shalt not" is a harsh master!

Yes, once upon a time I could get away with eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted to and as much as I wanted.   But that all changed after 30 and the rest has been painful to my scale.  And, 30 was while ago!

However, I am learning a new way.  I believe that old dogs can........ change!   And this way of life  applies to diets, dreams and actually even to the spiritual life.   The simple insights in Tim Ferris's new book called the "Four Hour Diet" has rearranged my thinking.  Basically; (warning: gross oversimplification here! But, simple is what I need!) Stop focusing on what you don't eat, can't eat and how much you must forgo!  Instead: focus on what you can eat 6 days a week.  (Proteins, vegetables, nuts, beans, eggs, spices, fats, oils...) Then one day a week, totally eat like a horse! Take an out of control Sabbath! Yes!

On the stairmaster this morning, I was thinking how Jesus taught this same way:  The way of life that works is the path of positive refocus.  Though few would argue with the Ten Commandments and how much keeping the law works, most don't and can't.  Jesus taught He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  When asked by the religious establishment just which commandment is most important, (Between the lines, "What do we need to suck it up and 'say no to' most?) Jesus responded with positive replacement: "Love the Lord your God... and Love Your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 28-31)

Resistance rarely works:  Replacement often does!   Positive replacement brings life... and results.  Simplify instead of sentencing yourself to endless failure.  Replace your can'ts with cans. 

So here's how this applies to dreams: Replace what you can't do (at least yet) with what you can do. Focusing on what you haven't done, can't do, will likely lead to discouragement, depression and even despair.   Time to let that go, at least for now.   So, you can't quit your day job, move to Tahiti and become a full time author: But

What small step in the right direction might bring life to your dream - and to you - today?