What are you willing to do to get what you want?
Create your future (part 3)
I am working my way through a book called The 12 Week Year. Last month I talked about confronting the truth (For more about it, read October’s newsletter “creating a vision”), today I want to talk about commitment. The 12WY talks about how making a conscious commitment to do something brings about profound changes In your daily actions and habits. The act of taking conscious ownership takes your goal to a whole new level.
We have to hit rock bottom before we change.
We know what we need to do in order to get where we want to be, accomplish what we want to get done, and get to the next level. It’s that nagging voice in the back of your head that we all tend to quiet and ignore in favor of the pleasure of the moment. So if you want to bring about change, the question really is, are you willing to go to that place of discomfort and sacrifice to get there? When it becomes a high enough priority, people generally make the changes. Why do we wait for the situation to become life or death before making the changes we know will make our lives better? Why not just make the promise to your future self right now? Aren’t you worth it?
I promised myself I would…
Try this exercise: Make a list of the things you want to do (lose weight, get fit, buy a house, retire by 60, write a book, go to Vietnam…). Pick one or two that really stand out (if it makes you cry or gives you chills, then it’s important!) and then write down what it will cost you in order to achieve them. What changes will you have to make in order to change your future self? Get up earlier? Less tv watching? Will it take you away from your family? Will it make you confront your deep-seated belief that you are worthless and don’t deserve to be successful? There will be sacrifice- your comfort and time will definitely be affected- better to know now what the pitfalls are going to be so you can confront them and handle them before they sink you.
Make a promise to yourself that you will focus on these 1 or 2 things. Share this goal with your friends and family. Ask for help. Who knows? You might just inspire them to make changes too.
One of my goals is to lose the 10 pounds I gained while I was injured last year. I mind-mapped (see article) possibilities and decided that intermittent fasting, calorie counting and increased work outs were items I am willing to do right now (eliminating chocolate and wine were not ;-). I shared my goal with my weekly group and have been talking about how unsuccessful I have been with achieving it. Confronting the truth that maybe I need to cool it on the wine and chocolate for a minute spurred me to instead double down on my workouts (I knew my workouts were more social than aerobic anyway). I DEFINITELY don’t want to go to Orange Theory (because it’s new and I like my tennis buddies), but I made a commitment (!!!) and I really like my glass of wine at night, so I am going to try everything else before eliminating that.
So whatever your goal is- from writing a book, to getting in better shape, to saving money for a down payment, believe it is possible and begin today on the road to changing your behavior and getting closer to the life you are dreaming of.
Until next month,
Emily