The Why
Everyday my goal is to sit down and write this blog. Since March 17th of this year I have dedicated myself to this dare to habit journey. Now I can’t say that I have done it every single day, but I have done it consistently. Now here is what makes it a habit, that consistency. So what does a habit actually look like. Let’s dive in and discuss.
A habit is a type of ritual or routine course of action done consistently over time. One habit would be something like brushing your teeth in the morning and the night. You have it ingrained in your head since childhood to do this and as an adult you continue the cycle. How do we then create that consistency? By prioritizing the actual goal. You brush your teeth for your dental health and to have good hygiene, then understanding the why to your goal is going to help you prioritize it. Things like I should or it would be good for me, or I need to are not WHYS!! A why would be like I am going to actively move everyday because it makes me feel happier and movement helps my anxiety. Understanding why you desire some goal or change will help you solidify it into your day, otherwise you should stop eating that cake turns into well a small piece won’t kill me. If you understood the why you want to avoid that cake then the willpower supplies you with enough resistance to combat that chocolatey goodness.
So let’s take a look at some of the things you want to do or goals you have on your list. Now chose one of them and let’s focus on it for a bit. Why is this something you want to do, achieve, gain, become? How will it make you feel achieving it? Really think about the answers to these things and write them down!! They will be your reference every time you want to give up. Now list one way you can take a step to achieving that goal. Like let’s say you want to lose 10 lbs. Now a step you could take is to walk 1 mile a day. After a week of doing that maybe you add a step like cut out sugar and soda. And so on, slowly changing your current situation to match the goal you wish to make. After practicing this for a while it becomes part of your routine. You go out with friends and instead of ordering your normal soda you get an unsweetened ice tea and skip on desert. You prioritize your why’s, not your should!!
It takes baby steps every day to become good at something, and habits like that don’t happen over night. You have to retrain yourself to practice this new habit everyday, it’s like reconfiguring a hard drive. It takes some time. When creating habits you want to first ask yourself why, then write it down. After you take small actionable steps towards it, and whenever doubt or fear or any negative emotion comes up you reapply your WHY with positive emotions. I am doing this because it truly makes me feel better and more happy. I am working out because I am less depressed. My why is that I chose to be healthier and want to be a force of nature. When I workout I feel calmer, more focused, and the work makes me feel accomplished. This right here is my why, and when I tell myself that when I am wanting to give up, it snaps me out of that bullshit and back into the reality I am creating for myself.
Habits don’t happen overnight, so be gentle on yourself if you haven’t achieved everything you wanted. It may take longer then you want but don’t let that discourage you, remember your why. In the end empowering yourself is how you stay consistent. Like I did with my blog. Sure I take time off but I don’t give up. I take my rest and then I come back ready to kick ass and show my stuff. It’s hard to always be on, and it’s okay if you need time off, just make sure you don’t give up because of it. Sure it’s easy to be lazy and not follow through but will you be happy disappointing yourself? Will you be happy when you give up on the goals or dreams or habits you want to accomplish? I know for sure I wouldn’t!!
Today was a 8.