Around the Edges
Think back to a recent moment when you were energized to make sweeping changes in your personal and/or professional life.
You were going to finally: lose weight, quit smoking, find a better job, save money, go back to school, or enjoy life more. You may have bought a journal, created a vision board, wrote out a long to-do list, or started researching the strategies of others who’ve experienced grand changes. And, as usual, somehow (without your permission, of course) the energy dissipated, the desire faded, and the effort it takes to pull off those sweeping changes started to feel burdensome. Allow me to offer you a reframe.
The changes you desire are still available to you. Instead of focusing on the lofty goals and miraculous gains, consider focusing on small, routine changes that will allow for sustainable habit formation. Start by looking around the edges of the goals you want to achieve. If you think a job change is in order, first investigate whether a new project, a new team, or a cross-functional opportunity is available. If you are ready to go back to school, but concerned about costs or family obligations, consider reaching out to an expert in that field for non-degree recommendations. In some cases, those recommendations (books, conferences, or certificate programs) may directly target what you are really hoping to learn vs. sitting through a 2 or 3 year degree program. If you want to save money, commit to not buying anything over $___ (my number is $50) until you’ve slept on it first. If you still believe the purchase is aligned to your budget and financial goals, then go for it (you may find that impulse purchases have been the culprit).
The idea here is not to give up on the changes you want to make, especially when you experience failures. The point is to look around the edges and identify the adjustments that will lead to patterns of small wins, habit-stacking, and compounded success. Be mindful of your self-talk, seek to learn from your failures, adjust your strategies as needed, and find an accountability partner who will both challenge you and celebrate every win!
Quote for Growth
“The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. It’s one thing to say I’m the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this.” — James Clear
Video of the Week
Small wins from Robin Sharma.