In a normal day, almost everything we do is done out of habit. Almost every day we get up about the same time and go through a familiar routine. Out of habit, we take the same route to work, eat lunch about the same time, and run familiar errands every week. Of course, there are minor variations if we run into road construction or have an early breakfast meeting, but habits help us organize our lives.
Habits simplify everything. Imagine if you woke up with no idea where the bathroom might be, what your schedule was, or what responsibilities you faced. Life would be stressful beyond belief! Fortunately, we have “ordinary routines” that help us navigate through the day.
The key is that while habits help us organize our daily routines, some habits also help us achieve our most important goals, while other habits undermine us every step of the way. There is little difference in time or effort between reading a book or watching TV, but there may be an enormous difference in how these habits impact our lives.
Successful people carefully choose even their smallest and most routine daily habits with an eye on the long-term consequences.
And here’s a vital point—habits start as very simple choices. There’s an old poem that goes something like this:
Sow a thought, and reap an action.
Sow an action, and reap a habit.
Sow a habit, and reap a character.
Sow a character and reap a destiny!
Think about the power of that sequence! To a remarkable degree our success or failure is the long-term result of simple thoughts and ordinary daily habits.
So, why not intentionally choose daily habits or “disciplines” that take you where you want to go in life? Here are a few examples.
Many people get in the habit of listening to sports or talk radio while they commute and of course there’s nothing wrong with that. But other people get in the habit of listening to inspirational or educational CD’s, and over time, they benefit from that easy daily habit.
Or how about people who routinely grab a hamburger and fries for lunch, while others habitually reach for an apple and salad? Some people habitually come home and turn on the TV, while others go for a run, mow the lawn or do homework with the kids. Any of these choices are “easy” but over time, some habits create better outcomes than others. Some people have the habit of spending, while others choose the habit of saving and investing. Either option is easy, but they have very different long-term results.
As a coach, I encourage clients to make fundamental decisions about the habits they want in their lives. I encourage them to be clear, specific and committed to each of them.
One habit Mary and I have had for twenty-three years is that the first words we utter every morning and the last words we say at night are, “I love you.” I think it's made a nice difference.
Many of my clients have developed the habit of reading something positive every single day, even if it’s only a few pages. Over time, it becomes a part of who they are and how they live their lives.
Choose simple, positive habits that will enhance your life. Reduce them to clear, specific actions you habitually take every day. Develop your own list of positive habits that automatically move you toward your goals and create the life you want.
For better or worse, life is made of our daily habits. Winners choose habits that reflect their values and move them toward their most important goals. Unfortunately, most people have habits that are comfortable, but which actually detract from their most important goals. Don’t do that to yourself! To increase your success, you must eliminate every habit that holds you back and replace it with habits that move your forward and reflect your highest aspirations.
Quotes of the Week
"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." -- Mother Teresa
"You are what you think about all day long." -- Dr. Robert Schuller
"Picture in your mind a sense of personal destiny." -- Wayne Oates
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
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