Why Big Sweeping Changes May Be Easier (and More Sustainable) Than Small Ones: New Evidence from the University of British Columbia
If you're facing a big task, it makes perfect sense to break it down.
Right?
I am not too sure about that anymore.
Because when it comes to significant life change, the opposite might be true. In fact, making one large, sweeping change could be easier—and more sustainable—than trying to tweak things slowly over time.
Let’s dig a little deeper.
Evidence Shows, Treating Multiple Addictions Together Leads to Better Outcomes
The insight that bigger change is easier than incremental adjustments struck me after completing the Addictions Care and Treatment course from the University of British Columbia.
What UBC’s Addiction Care and Treatment Course Reveals
The UBC course discusses:
A singular treatment recommendation for different substance and behavioral addictions.
Later, they address treatment for individuals addicted to multiple substances.
Surprisingly, research shows that treating multiple addictions together can actually lead to better outcomes.
For example, people with both Nicotine Use Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder are up to 25% more likely to quit smoking if they address both issues at once, rather than one at a time.
Needless to say, this research challenged some conventional assumptions, and it got me thinking deeply about change in general as well as the plasticity of the brain.
What is Neuroplasticity?
The brain is remarkably adaptable, thanks to neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and create new neural pathways. This is what allows us to learn new skills, form habits, and even recover after injury.
Here’s a Simple Example: Learning to Ride a Bike
At first, it’s difficult—you have to concentrate on coordinating your legs on the pedals, your hands on the brakes, and your overall balance and direction.
Over time, however, it becomes automatic.
The brain encodes these fundamental principles, reinforcing neural pathways through repetition and practice.
This process is incredibly beneficial for learning.
However, neuroplasticity can also make unlearning or changing behaviours challenging.
Why Big Changes Can Sometimes Feel Easier
The automatic nature of learned behavior is fascinating.
It is what led me to consider why making big changes might be easier than making small ones.
Here’s the Problem with Small Tweaks:
Small changes require altering ingrained habits—adjusting pathways that have already been reinforced through repetition.
This can be difficult because those behaviours are deeply embedded in our neural circuitry.
Big Shifts Create Fresh Neural Pathways
Big changes often necessitate developing entirely new skills and ways of thinking, forming fresh neural pathways rather than modifying existing ones.
While learning new behaviours may feel more challenging at first, over time, they become second nature.
By operating within a completely different framework, it’s actually easier to avoid slipping back into old habits.
Change Is Possible—And Sometimes, Bigger Is Better
We often think of growth as gradual. And sometimes, it is.
But don’t underestimate the power of a bold, comprehensive shift. Your brain is built to adapt—and whether you're pursuing sobriety, healing, or simply a new way of being, it’s okay (and perhaps better) to choose a new path altogether.
“Studies suggest that major life transitions—such as moving to a new city, starting a new job, or entering a new social environment—can create an optimal window for adopting new habits.”
Key Takeaways for Mental Health in Vancouver
Here are some key takeaways
Bigger changes can be easier to sustain than small ones, especially when it comes to changing deeply rooted habits.
Treating multiple addictions at the same time may lead to better outcomes, according to UBC research.
Neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in both forming new habits and unlearning old ones.
Major life transitions (like moving, career change, or entering therapy) can create ideal conditions for long-term change.
Vancouver residents seeking therapy or addiction support may benefit from embracing bigger, more holistic shifts rather than small, incremental adjustments..
Don’t look back, you aren’t going that way.
What This Means for You
If you're seeking counselling or addiction therapy here in Vancouver, it’s worth considering what kind of change you’re truly ready for.
Are small changes giving you the results you need?
Are you making small changes?
Are you seeing reliable results from those changes?
If not, are you ready to step into something completely new?
The Watermark Approach
For us at Watermark Counselling, we support individuals, couples, and families through all types of transformation — from small behavioural tweaks to large-scale life changes.
Whether you need help with substance abuse, strained relationships, or past trauma, we understand that change is both psychological and physiological.
Not just that — our team approaches therapy through the lens of evidence, empathy, and experience.
So whenever you’re ready, we can support you, right here, in the heart of Vancouver.
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