I revisited my "One Little Word" last month, to explore whether or not it still resonated, and bemoaned the fact that the areas of my life that I really wanted to change had not, all that much anyway.
Six weeks later, it finally hit me. (If only I had read my own post, I would have realized this sooner.)
My OLW was in sore need of an addendum. So here it is:
Results...ACT.
As in 'to get results, one must perform some action.' I knew this at some level, because hey, the planning got done, complete with action steps. Heck, I even wrote "What I've learned (once again) in the last five months is that writing stuff down, even in SMART goal form, isn't the same as doing it." Last I checked, "doing" was an action verb.
To be honest, some of this push is coming from reading Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. Thirteen pages in, and he's already challenging me to "audit my time" to determine if how I spend my waking minutes aligns with my values. I've extended this thinking to my goals.
If I am eating that second cookie, is that acting like someone who wants to lose weight?
If I am mindlessly scrolling through social media, ignoring the clutter and cleaning tasks, is that acting like someone who really wants a clear space?
If I am buying something that I already have plenty of and really don't need, is that acting like someone who wants more financial stability?
I did all those things yesterday...and the cognitive dissonance hit me, each time. Today I am going to sit with that discomfort...and act like someone who really wants results.
This resonates with me! I often have great ideas or plans, but not the action to get them done. Your word is the jump start to completing those tasks and getting results. Good luck and thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and for the reminder for action, especially using Jay’s challenges! ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat, honest reflection and thanks for sharing. Your examples are so clearly stated and also so universal. I love the line “sit with that discomfort.” That, plus action like you say! Is how we make change.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not always easy to get the knowledge, intentions and actions aligned, no matter what books, podcasts and webinars of successful habit builders say. Small steps and self-compassion make good company on the journey.
ReplyDeleteFantastic reflection, Chris. Of course your "push" should come from a book! I might add that reading is extremely productive in its own way (just to assuage any guilt spent with a book, just saying). That cognitive dissonance of our actions not aligning with our beliefs... that's indeed a call to act! Your line of questioning is something we all need to apply, to realize our own power, and to overcome our own barriers...the act of altering one's steps just a slight bit each day can change a whole trajectory, after a while...something I know I needed to hear today. Many thanks as always for sharing such edifying insights.
ReplyDeleteChris, great post. I look forward to updates as you sit and ponder and ACT! Good for you. Have a great rest of your summer.
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