David Maister, in his book “Strategy and the Fat Smoker,” makes the point that most organizations are pretty clear on what they need to do to drive success. The challenge is actually doing it. I think this is true for individuals as well. We all know pretty much what we need to do to increase our health and well-being. So those resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, etc. don’t really help much.
Over the past year, as I’ve posted daily resilience exercises on Twitter and Facebook, I’ve become increasingly clear about the importance of the accumulation of the small daily choices we make. Each day we make hundreds of choices. Do we answer the phone or let it ring? Do we pour the third cup of coffee or have a glass of water instead? Do we look for a parking place close to the door or park a little farther and walk?
So this year I’m trying something new. For the things I know I need to do (exercise more, eat healthier, find time for my music), I’ve identified a small set of choices that I want pay attention to. Each time the choice arises, I want to be aware that it’s there, and be aware of what I”m choosing. As an example, I have realized that the biggest predictor of whether I exercise on any given day is whether I get up when the alarm goes off or hit the snooze button. That extra few minutes in the morning really makes a difference. So that’s one of the choices I’m attending to. I’m not beating myself up if I do choose to snooze on any given day, but I am paying attention. And in my morning journal, I’m noting the choices I have made. Not tracking, graphing, summarizing, or anything so organized; just being honest with myself about my daily choices.
I invite you to do the same. Identify a few daily choices that, if made consistently, would move you in your desired direction. Then start paying attention each time the opportunity to make that choice arises.
Let me know how it goes!