You know it’s funny.  I get my teeth cleaned 4 times a year.  I brush my teeth at least 3, sometimes 4 times a day.  I floss everyday.  As a matter of fact, I remember to eat everyday, and although not enough at times, I manage to sleep everyday.  I show up for work, every day.  I find time to write and respond to emails every day.  I hug my kids and tell them I love them, every day.

So why is it that I seem to skip other important things every day?

My favorite Jim Rohn Quote is:
“The things that lead to success are easy to do.  The challenge is that they are also easy not to do” - Jim Rohn

I get into amazing patterns of habit.  But it often doesn’t last.  I ran religiously from 1983 or so right up till around 1995.  I rekindled my running spirit, lost 30 lbs and worked back up to 6 mile runs in 2000 - 2002.  But here I am again… 40 lbs overweight and once again trying to build habits.  What is it about our nature that can be so dedicated, almost OCD about things for a period of time, and then we suddenly realize we aren’t doing that thing we loved so much for years?

As Americans, our attention spans are short, our ability to persevere generally small, and our appetites are HUGE!

Nike used to have a slogan… “Just DO it!” That in fact is the secret.  perseverence itself is the key.  Not will power, not self help jargon, and not the latest fad.  The fact is, it is a decision.  I am finding more and more that success in anything is a decision that starts with the words “I Will …”

I think the key to continuing is to overcome our tendencies to be all or nothing and just be consistent.  Momentum comes from repitition, not 1 big effort.  Momentum is maintained by doing a little bit everyday so that even when we fall, we get up and do it again.. Out of habit, out of stubborness and out of an intense desire to be something that we are not.

So for the next 30 days, starting today, I am going to do 3 new things everyday for 10 minutes each.  (If some of these seem small, this is in addition to what I am already doing.)

I am going to add a new exercise for 10 minutes.
I am going to pray for others for 10 minutes.
I am going to practice guitar scales for 10 minutes.

I won’t do them for more than 20 minutes, because I am trying to build a habit, not break records or bolster my pride.  So on Jan 5, 2008, I will have completed 300 minutes of Exercise, 300 minutes of prayer, and 300 minutes of guitar scales.  That’s 15 hours of moving in the right direction.

Slow and steady wins the race.  Moderation should keep us from burning out, and perseverence will see us through.

I pray that you will reach your goals and find your purpose.  Please keep me in your prayers as I struggle to succeed!

Harry Offutt ( http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/harryoffutt )

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Daily Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.