Our choices create our day, our week, our year, and our life. No pressure! And it’s in the details of our habits where we can create change. Because our habits are creating our future. I always say to clients, want to see your future? Look at your daily habits.
It’s an interesting thing to ponder because most of us don’t give our habits a second thought. They become such a natural and organic part of our day that we might not even notice them! And yet, they have huge impact in the outcome of our lives.
Think about your habits: exercise, coffee, Diet Coke, meditation, smoking, brushing your teeth, a drink at the end of the day, or what you eat for breakfast…..whatever you do consistently is creating an outcome; positively or negatively, and it’s creating your life. It’s also determining who you hang out with, the type of work you do, where you live….the whole thing. Take a good look at your habits and ask yourself, is this in alignment with the future I want for myself? Will this make me happy, healthy, wealthy, and fulfilled? Or is it taking me away from what I really want?
So it goes without saying that if you want to create change in your life, you need to change your habits or create new ones. It’s really that simple.
But sticking to a new habit isn’t always so easy.
Enter the amazing book: Atomic Habits by James Clear. If you haven’t read it yet, it is worth your money and time. It digs into the importance and impact of habits and guides you on how to create and stick with new habits that will create the life you want. Perhaps even more important is the powerful impact of creating little changes that overtime make a big difference. Below is a short excerpt:
WHY SMALL HABITS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the value of making small improvements on a daily basis. Too often, we convince ourselves that massive success requires massive action. Whether it is losing weight, building a business, writing a book, winning a championship, or achieving any other goal, we put pressure on ourselves to make some earth-shattering improvement that everyone will talk about.
Meanwhile, improving by 1 percent isn’t particularly notable—sometimes it isn’t even noticeable—but it can be far more meaningful, especially in the long run. The difference a tiny improvement can make over time is astounding. Here’s how the math works out: if you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done. Conversely, if you get 1 percent worse each day for one year, you’ll decline nearly down to zero. What starts as a small win or a minor setback accumulates into something much more.”
We’ve just finished the first week of the year. What a perfect time to create new habits that are aligned with our goals and what we want! I know sometimes life seems overwhelming and unreachable. But when you break it down into small pieces, anything is possible to create and conquer. (Remember: 1% improvement.)
I can’t think of anything more important than creating a life you love and are proud of. You will show up authentic, happier, and will radiate joy to all of those individuals around you. And oh the positive impact you will make!
This is your life! As the saying goes, this is not a dress rehearsal. Get excited for the possibilities and opportunities you will be creating in 2023! You can Emerge Positive!
Positively,
deanne
