The prospect of big change, of any kind is daunting. It’s easier to simply carry-on in the grooves I live day-in-day-out. But life is about growth. Without expansion l stagnate – and maybe grow a little bored.
So, I set my sights on my dreams and aspirations – and take baby steps in that direction.
Making small changes; that one-degree turn, is manageable. Take a step – see how it feels. Allow the discomfort to ease. Practice. Practice again, until its second nature. Then take the next step.
In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear reminds me that while small, these shifts are powerful. Building on the psychological tenets of habit, including the works of Charles Duhigg (The Power of Habit), he offers some simple and practical suggestions, like “master the entry point” . . .
Make that first step SUPER small (atomic); and say: “I will xxxxx”
Then add when . . . “I will xxxxx, at (time)
Finally, say where . . . “I will xxxxx, at (time) in (location)
There are habits I want to reinforce related to meditation, exercise and writing. So, I made an atomic habit tree to nudge me down that road.
Funny how just opening a document on the computer propels me forward. Knowing when and where these modest actions take place work my brain in the direction my heart wants to go.
Cultivating healthy habits; mental, physical and emotional is a lifelong endeavor. This concept is found in many disciplines; from science, business and psychology to Buddhism.
What I do and how I think is crucial to my happiness and well-being. Taking small steps every day will make all the difference.
“A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit.” ― Erasmus
