The Behavior Coach: How to Break Old Patterns & Change Your Life - Eric Zimmer

You know what you want to change. So why is it still so hard to actually do it?

Maybe you want to break a habit, get out of a relationship that isn’t good for you, become more consistent, or finally stop falling back into the same patterns.

You’ve probably told yourself you need more discipline. More motivation. More willpower.

But what if that’s not actually the problem?

In today’s conversation, we sit down with author, coach, and host of The One You Feed podcast, Eric Zimmer, to unpack why lasting change is a skill you can learn, and why struggling to change doesn’t mean you’re lazy, weak, or incapable.

Eric knows this firsthand. At 24, he was homeless, addicted to heroin, and facing the possibility of decades in prison. He got sober, relapsed eight years later when everything in his life looked successful from the outside, and has now been completely clean for 18 years.

And what he’s learned about change completely challenges the way most of us approach it.

You’re going to learn:

- How to get back on track without turning one setback into a spiral

- How to stop forcing goals that don’t fit your life

- Why smaller goals can actually create bigger, longer-lasting change

- How to make a change before your life hits rock bottom

- When you should push toward a goal and when you should let it go

- How to stop letting self-doubt talk you out of doing what you know you need to do

- Signs that a relationship is holding you back

If there’s something in your life you’ve been trying to change, this conversation will help you understand what’s actually getting in the way and what to do next.

Explore our website⁠

Shop The 'I Swear It's Easy' Cookbook

Visit Eric's website

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with Dr. Ellen Langer: ⁠watch + listen now! ⁠

(00:00) Why This Episode Matters For You

(01:12) Stop Using Discipline, Use Skills

(02:43) A Quick Ask!

(03:29) What Skills Do I Need?

(06:28) Second-Guessing Your Change

(11:51) Lessons From Eric's Relapse

(16:44) Making A Change Before You Hit 'Rock Bottom'

(20:42) What Should I Do After A Setback?

(23:32) Small Steps vs Major Boundaries

(28:33) Most Common Excuses!

(34:53) Follow The Season of Your Life

(35:41) How Can I Spot Toxic vs Positive People?

(42:24) The 'I Swear It's Easy' Cookbook

(43:06) Healthy Coping Mechanisms

(50:17) How Can I Stop Feeling Ashamed About An Old Version of Myself?

(53:07) What Has Eric Learned From The One You Feed Podcast?

(55:57) Find Eric Here

(56:26) Hacks For More Happiness, Overcome The Scarcity Mindset, and Your Guide To Mindfulness