This is something that I think is they key to unlocking many doors in life.
I spend many hours teaching it to Leaders at the Company I work for and many hours coaching people on it in terms of taking control of their lives and achieving their goals.
If you want to achieve something-you must ensure you have created rituals around that goal.
You can't succeed by simply saying:
I want to exercise more
I want to be a better partner
I wish I were a better friend
I want to spend more time with my kids
I need to balance work and life better
I wish I were a better leader
I wish I had a girlfriend
You need to tie actions to these objectives (of course right!) Besides actions you also need to create rituals. In my experience it’s really the only way.
I will give you and example from my own life of a ritualization that I have tied to my own recent Happiness Project.
I don’t get to write on my blog at night, or read my favorite other blogs unless….I have exercised that day (or unless I have an extremely valid excuse such as illness, an important meeting at work early in the morning that has to take place at that time, or something very much out of my control). Or I am on vacation.
And I stick to this. I create a ritual.
I want to write-I must power walk. I want to read-I must lift weights.
So yesterday morning I did not exercise as I had intended to (I have a schedule that is posted on every mirror of my house so I should know my intentions). I had a fairly good excuse-another big drama to deal with at one of the kid’s school. However I did not think that this justified missing exercise. I could have fit it in at the end of the day, but I chose not too. I was too lazy.
Too bad. No blog writing. And I missed it a lot. It was a heartbreaker for me. Yet effective method as it hurt-good.
This morning plan was to power walk and lift weights. Woke up to pouring rain outside and my husband near begging me to stay in bed with him, cuddle and talk about how much we miss our vacation together. Tempting. but..I did not give in…I got my ass out of bed and exercised and did weights and put in an hour of work before I got to work. I felt very good about my decision and glad I had my ritual to motivate me.
So guess what readers I get to write tonight! And read all my favorite blogs!
So my advice is you can’t achieve objectives without a plan. And you can’t have a comprehensive plan without ritualization.
I have often been heard saying “Opportunities won’t come knocking at your door. If you want something-go get it. Make it happen.” The only person looking out for you in this world..is YOU"
Did I mention that my exercise/ blog ritual has begun only 2 days ago? I might say that it is to say the least in it's infancy stages still. No bragging rights yet; I will keep you posted on it's success or failure.
You keep me accountable ok?
