I heard a new quote the other day, and it made so much sense to me!
Practice Makes Permanent
What a brilliant way of looking at it!
I’ve heard of “Practice Makes Perfect”. The one thing I wasn’t keen on with respect to that quote is the “perfect” part. It’s so easy to get caught up in the perfectionism trap. I prefer not to use that word.
One part of my life where I see the power of this quote is with my habits.
I’ve found that the best way to change my bad habits is to create a new habit that supports me and my goals, and the best way to create a new habit is to practice it lots. I definitely want my new supportive habits to be permanent!
Are you ready to make a new, more supportive habit permanent?
If so, I have a valuable and simple exercise for you.
Here is a list of materials you’ll need.
1. Journal – You’ll need a place to write your intentions and experiences. Pick something you’ll enjoy writing in.
2. Calendar – Experts agree that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. You’ll be keeping track!
Something important to remember—only choose one habit at a time to play with. This will allow you to keep focus on your intention. Tackling too many habits at once will spread your attention thin.
In your journal, as your self the following questions:
1. What’s one habit I have that I’d like to transform? (Hint: This will usually come out as a “don’t want”. For example, I don’t want to eat bon-bons every day.)
2. What new, supportive habit would I like to replace it with? (Hint: You can usually take the “don’t want” from question 1 and give it a 180 degree flip to find your do want. For example, I eat well every day, and treat myself to a bon-bon on Sundays.)
3. What’s one thing I can do today to practice this new habit? (Hint: Pick an action you feel good about. Write it down in your journal. You do not need to do the same action each day. Sometimes changing things up can make the transformation more fun.)
You will be repeating Step 3 each day for a total of 21 days.
On your calendar, put an X on each day that you practice your new habit.
There is one important detail to this part of the exercise. If you happen to miss a day, the count of days for practicing returns to one. What this means is if you miss day 8, you will be starting again at day one the next day. I want you to get through 21 consecutive days of practicing.
I can already see a few faces being made about this part of the exercise. “You said it was simple!” Yes, I did. It is simple. Being consistent may be simple, but it isn’t always easy.
If you’re one of the faces I’m seeing, ask yourself this question. How much do you want this new habit?
Too often we are the ones that hold us back from achieving our success, whether it’s creating new habits, or achieving any number of goals in our life.
If you find yourself missing days, and are still determined to make your new habit permanent, I invite you to write the following question daily in your journal:
4. How much do I want this new habit?
To recap, to create a new habit, ask yourself the three (perhaps four) self-coaching questions listed above. Write the answers in your journal. Answer question 3 (and 4 if necessary) in your journal daily. Mark off each day in your calendar until you have 21 consecutive days completed with this exercise.
There is one last thing that you’ll need to do each day. This, to me, is the most important step.
Celebrate! Each and every day that you complete the exercise Celebrate! At the end of the 21 days, have a HUGE Celebration! Give yourself a gift. Pat yourself on the back. Phone a friend or two up and brag! Send me an email and brag!
What’s one new habit you’d like to create? I’m seeing you already there!
Practice Makes Permanent
What a brilliant way of looking at it!
I’ve heard of “Practice Makes Perfect”. The one thing I wasn’t keen on with respect to that quote is the “perfect” part. It’s so easy to get caught up in the perfectionism trap. I prefer not to use that word.
One part of my life where I see the power of this quote is with my habits.
I’ve found that the best way to change my bad habits is to create a new habit that supports me and my goals, and the best way to create a new habit is to practice it lots. I definitely want my new supportive habits to be permanent!
Are you ready to make a new, more supportive habit permanent?
If so, I have a valuable and simple exercise for you.
Here is a list of materials you’ll need.
1. Journal – You’ll need a place to write your intentions and experiences. Pick something you’ll enjoy writing in.
2. Calendar – Experts agree that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. You’ll be keeping track!
Something important to remember—only choose one habit at a time to play with. This will allow you to keep focus on your intention. Tackling too many habits at once will spread your attention thin.
In your journal, as your self the following questions:
1. What’s one habit I have that I’d like to transform? (Hint: This will usually come out as a “don’t want”. For example, I don’t want to eat bon-bons every day.)
2. What new, supportive habit would I like to replace it with? (Hint: You can usually take the “don’t want” from question 1 and give it a 180 degree flip to find your do want. For example, I eat well every day, and treat myself to a bon-bon on Sundays.)
3. What’s one thing I can do today to practice this new habit? (Hint: Pick an action you feel good about. Write it down in your journal. You do not need to do the same action each day. Sometimes changing things up can make the transformation more fun.)
You will be repeating Step 3 each day for a total of 21 days.
On your calendar, put an X on each day that you practice your new habit.
There is one important detail to this part of the exercise. If you happen to miss a day, the count of days for practicing returns to one. What this means is if you miss day 8, you will be starting again at day one the next day. I want you to get through 21 consecutive days of practicing.
I can already see a few faces being made about this part of the exercise. “You said it was simple!” Yes, I did. It is simple. Being consistent may be simple, but it isn’t always easy.
If you’re one of the faces I’m seeing, ask yourself this question. How much do you want this new habit?
Too often we are the ones that hold us back from achieving our success, whether it’s creating new habits, or achieving any number of goals in our life.
If you find yourself missing days, and are still determined to make your new habit permanent, I invite you to write the following question daily in your journal:
4. How much do I want this new habit?
To recap, to create a new habit, ask yourself the three (perhaps four) self-coaching questions listed above. Write the answers in your journal. Answer question 3 (and 4 if necessary) in your journal daily. Mark off each day in your calendar until you have 21 consecutive days completed with this exercise.
There is one last thing that you’ll need to do each day. This, to me, is the most important step.
Celebrate! Each and every day that you complete the exercise Celebrate! At the end of the 21 days, have a HUGE Celebration! Give yourself a gift. Pat yourself on the back. Phone a friend or two up and brag! Send me an email and brag!
What’s one new habit you’d like to create? I’m seeing you already there!
*~*~*
Velma Gallant is an Author, Speaker, Trainer and Abundance Coach. She's a co-author in a best-selling book series with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, and Wayne Dyer called "Wake Up Live the Life you Love: Finding Personal Freedom". Velma is the creator of Living Abundant Joy where she interviewed 19 outrageously successful speakers, marketers and coaches on Abundance. She publishes a weekly e-newsletter called "Welcome Changes". Velma coaches entrepreneurs and business people to be abundantly successful in both business and life. You can visit Velma's website at www.WelcomeChanges.com, or reach her by email at velma@welcomechanges.com .
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