Archive for Goals
Discipline and Willpower Are Overrated
Posted by: | CommentsWhoa!?! Discipline and willpower are overrated? For most people, yes. It is human nature to be an instant gratification junkie. To be lazy, to seek comfort, to do what is convenient has become a habit for many. We tend to have great intentions then do not follow through and conjure up great excuses. I have caught myself doing this too many times. If you are like me and routinely find yourself doing things that do not align with your long term vision, then you probably are probably a little bit frustrated and need some help.
So I had to take a closer look at what was holding me back from the living a better life. I wrongly assumed that discipline and willpower would be the answer. Unfortunately, I am not that strong. After I admit that I am not perfect and realize discipline and willpower are a weakness of mine, I follow a simple strategy.
2 simple things you can do:
- Remove yourself immediately from an environment where it is easy to make poor decisions
- Prepare your environment with only good options from which to choose
- Want to stop smoking? #1) Do not hang out with smokers #2) Throw away cigarettes and never buy again
- Want to stop watching endless TV at night? #1) Remove the TV from your bedroom #2) Put a book on your nightstand
- Want to stop eating fast food? #1) Forbid yourself from driving into the parking lot of a fast food restaurant #2) Pack your lunch
- Want to stop snacking on junk food? #1) Eat only at home #2) Throw away all junk food in your house
- Want to stop drinking? #1) Stay away from bars, parties where alcohol is served #2) Throw out all alcohol and replace with healthy beverages
This strategy will take some practice. These tactics may seem drastic to some. But if you are serious about changing your behavior, then it is necessary. No one said it was easy.
Leave a comment and tell me what you do when discipline and willpower are not enough.
3 Words That Will Change Your Life
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STOP, START & CONTINUE
Have you ever felt lost? Have you ever felt like you were on track to hitting your goals only to find yourself stuck in the mud spinning your wheels and not knowing how to get out. I know I have. Countless times…
Three words have made a huge difference in my life: STOP, START & CONTINUE.
Decide what you want then keep it simple.
Simple instructions:
- List 2 things you must stop doing
- List 2 things you must start doing
- List 2 things you must continue doing
- Do not over think this. Just pick two actions for each. Then focus on those actions for the next seven days. Nothing more, nothing less. With this exercise you will simply identify what is holding you back (STOP), what you must do (START) and lastly, what you are doing well (CONTINUE). Talk to your mentor or someone you trust. Ask for his or her input to correctly identify where your focus should be. Finally, ask them to hold you accountable to do these things. Ask them to give honest and timely feedback.
Leave a comment on how this works for you.
Trash Your Weak Goals
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You seek a better life.
You are ambitious.
You are competitive.
You desire to get ahead at work.
You write down your goals and dreams.
You are motivated and ready to get to work.
Now what?
Look at your goals and make them personal. Trash your weak goals and instead make them matter.
Our minds are powerful. They can be our ally or our enemy if we do not pay close attention. Our minds will allow us to fight through seemingly impossible situations and then trick us into easily giving up during a moment of weakness. When do most people decide to put forth the effort, intensity and follow through necessary to accomplish their goals? Sadly, the answer for most is when it is personally convenient. Nothing worthwhile is convenient.
After you trash your weak goals, do these 3 things:
- Make your goals very detailed, specific and personal. You have to “feel” your goals in your soul. No one will put forth the necessary effort and energy for vague, nondescript goals.
- List the positive and negative consequences of not achieving your goals. I make the consequences drastic. I have noticed that if there is little to gain or lose, then I tend not to follow through.
- Get yourself fired up: Failure is not an option. I do not take the easy way out and quit. This matters. My future depends on this task.
Remember: Play now and pay later or pay now and play later. Either way, you will pay.
Leave a comment and tell me how you get fired up?