Your habits are things you don’t even notice. But they will direct your life like no other tool. Pay attention to what you do, that is the real indicator of your true intent.
If our actions aren’t in line with our values, we will know. Similarly, so will everyone else.
So check your habits and see what you are doing and if you really are getting the results you say you want.
Being unsuccessful is relatively easy. At least it is at first. Laze around, do little to no work and spend money you don’t earn or have. the consequences mean it does get much harder as the months and years go by though.
Building up your success habits is another story though. Eating less and better food takes discipline. Exercising or going to the gym takes discipline and it can be hard. Studying is rarely easy. Same with doing your work, dishes, and laundry. Saving and investing is also quite difficult near the start.
There are a lot of things you need to do to be successful. The sooner you get each one under control, the better off you’ll be!
You may have to start with one. And get really good at it. Then move on to another and build that into your day. It can take some time. Stick with it. It will be worth it over the years.
If you want to develop better habits, or stop unhelpful habits, you will make it easier for yourself and more likely to succeed if you track your habits daily.
Goals were written and you started off great! But then the wheels came off. Your great new habits have been slowly becoming one-offs rather than habitual. With that, your confidence has taken a hit and old habits are creeping back in.
What happened?!?!
This last one tends to catch a lot of people out. If you’ve spent a long time saying you’re not sporty, it can be pretty hard to stick with walking, running or more engaging activities and sports.
Years of saying ‘I’m not a reader’ or ‘I don’t read’, will make it difficult to read a book per month.
You will likely benefit from adopting a mantra that reflects the new you that you are becoming. Mantra’s like, ‘I am a runner’, ‘I am fit, active and healthy’, or ‘I am a reader’ and ‘I am a well read person’.
If you’re good at starting new initiatives, habits and activities, that’s great! For many, that is the hardest part. You just need to become the outcome. Become a completer/finisher. State with strong intent, ‘I am disciplined and results driven.’ Fall in love with the process. And then, like a miracle, you’ll become who you decided to be.
Have you ever been obsessed with something or someone? Perhaps we could say you were a fan or fanatical instead. Either way, obsessions become our possessions whether real or imaginary.
For example, people can become obsessed with a football team. Their obsession leads them to buying scarves, hats, t-shirts, cards, tickets and programmes. They begin to possess items in that realm.
You can see it with cars too. If you become obsessed with a car type, you may go on a collectible binge. This can happen with more expensive cars like a Ferrari but also with more cost-conscious cars like a mini or an MG.
Arguably you could add in a love-interest, musical group or clothing line. A person may become our date or partner if we pursue them relentlessly (in a good way). They won’t become a possession but you may attract them to stay in your orbit.
As for clothing, some people become obsessed or fanatical about a shoe brand, dresses, suits or ties.
Most of these examples are of consumption. Becoming obsessed with a work ethic, a goal, habits or a powerful mindset might be even more beneficial.
Consider what you need to do and get obsessed by it. Make it your obsession to have a big goal, better habits and a resilient mindset.
Obsessions become our possessions, so make them count.
To build good habits, achieve or succeed, you need to show up. This means you do it even when you don’t feel like it. Sometimes this even means you need to go in the rain.
I’m reminded of this as it was raining this morning. You may recall a recent post about early morning walks. These are always easier when it is light out, it’s a nice temperature and it’s dry.
It is more difficult to get up and go when it is dark, cold or wet. And it’s certainly more challenging when it is all three. I’m reminded of my marathon training a couple of years ago. It was in the winter so there were a few days that were all three. And getting up at 05:00 to face the elements in the dark and run 18 km would sometimes make it less appealing.
However, you need to push through. Be consistent and persistent and you can achieve the goals you want. You will develop the habits you need to and it will happen sooner. But you need to make a plan, put it in the diary and stick to it.
Your confidence grows if you stick to your plan. Alternatively, your confidence can shrink if you do not. In that case, your hard work can start to unravel. We certainly don’t want that.
So, as we did this morning, go in the rain.
Your habits, and the people you allow in your life, will have a bigger impact on your mindset than anything else. Build your best ecosystem. Be mindful of what you add to it.
Like building a house, car or office building, be clear with what you want the outcome to be. Visualise to start. Consider whether you want things to be fun, functional, quirky, mundane or exciting.
Then, create a blueprint. Write it out. This will help you understand where you want to end up. Do this as soon as you can. Because once you drift in a direction you will pick up speed and mental mass. Then it is harder to reverse or alter course.
As you write out your plan and ideal future situation, consider the blueprint again. Yes, it is challenging and sometimes frustrating to get into the detail, but that will save you time and anguish in the future. If you have clear directions to get somewhere, you won’t need to make frequent stops to check the map. Nor will you need to try to view the map while you drive – very bad idea.
Be conscious of the habits you have and those you want or would prefer. Also, be aware of who is influencing your thinking. Are they good for your mindset and the direction you want to go?
Build your best ecosystem.
Shouldn’t there be a reason why you do the things that you do? And is the reason the same now as it was when you started on the path? So, what’s the point?
Some days I wonder what the point is. And it is good to remind yourself why you do something. Or at least try to understand why you do something anymore.
We can develop really useful habits but sometimes they become unnecessary. Many years ago, I used to read a newspaper on most days. I greatly reduced that when I asked myself this question. What am I getting from this that benefits me, or anyone else for that matter?
I’ve done the same thing with almost all tv, save for some movies and a few sporting events.
Be careful not to eliminate too much though. That can be a slippery slope into thinking nothing has a point. Which isn’t true. Everything has a point. You simply need to understand what it is for you and others.
For example, I used to run to compete. Then I ran for fun. At one time, I ran to lose weight. I then ran two marathons for a personal challenge. Now I run for fitness, fun, conversation and education. The reason can change.
Just be clear why you do what you do.
What’s the point?
It is easy to fall into a routine. Habits develop and then they are hard to shake. So try something new today. It could improve your life.
It is surprising how quickly your life can change. This could be from a comment, an interaction, an event or a thought. But in that split second your life begins down a whole new path.
This is happening to us with great frequency already. Though generally our decisions and thoughts remain in a fairly regular range. This range is bordered due to our habits and our comfort zone.
It feels good in that range as we know what to expect. There are few surprises here. We don’t need to think too much. And, for the most part, it makes us feel good. Even if we don’t like it, the familiarity can be comforting.
Though a great way to put some excitement into your life is by doing something different. Especially something that might lead to a more powerful or more supportive habit.
You can expand your comfort zone, build on your experience and grow your confidence all at once.
Surprisingly, once you do it once, you might do it again. Then again. Then it soon becomes a habit and changes your life.
Try something new today. One day, you’ll be glad you did.
