Week Two — When Change Gets Quiet

Last week was about recognizing that change is already happening, often before we label it, track it, or feel ready. This week is about what happens next. I remember realizing a habit was forming while traveling.

Not in ideal conditions — but in motion.

Finding one or two workouts wherever I landed. Running outside in Chicago through snowstorms and ice. Cold air, dark mornings, streets not designed for comfort.

I remember taking my daughter to tennis camp — yes, that exists — and lacing up my shoes before dawn. Headlamp on. Hand warmers stuffed into my pockets. Running alone in the cold, quietly wondering: Is this a routine yet? What amI doing out here? Why? I’ll admit it, it’s not perfect.

My body knows what to do: get up, move. But then there’s the head case. Even last week, while traveling, my brain said, ” It’s too cold, stay in bed. My body said, ” Get up, go work out. And the body won. Not because it was easy, but because I’ve learned what comes after. A clearer mind. A sense of purpose to start the day.

I still had to walk a few New York blocks afterward; it was about ten degrees outside, but even that felt different. Less resistance. Less negotiation.

The 5:2 approach taught me something similar. On fasting days, the focus wasn’t discipline; it was awareness. Listening to my body. Learning the difference between discomfort and resistance. Paying attention instead of pushing blindly.

At some point, the question changed. Not “How long does this take?” Not “Is it five weeks, seven weeks, ten?”

For me, it became clear when I felt most at home inside the effort.

No negotiation.
No drama.
No convincing.
Just: this is what I do.

That’s when change gets quiet. When it stops feeling like a project and starts feeling like alignment. When you’re no longer proving anything, you’re simply showing up.

Quiet change doesn’t mean nothing is happening. It often means the habit has stopped asking for attention. And that’s usually the moment it’s real.

How do you know when something has truly become part of who you are, not just something you’re trying?