Home - The 365 Commitment

The 365 Commitment is a simple formula that I use to keep my life on track. This has ended up being a daily writing that I produce each day during my latest personal transformation.

You can read the daily blog or sign up for the daily update. This blog is about motivation, inspiration and encouragement to make and keep life changing commitments.

Recent Blogs:

Day 297 – Finding Solace

The author discusses experiencing cyclical periods of melancholy, which he distinguishes from depression, viewing them as transitional phases. He shares insights from a prison psychiatrist who emphasized managing reactions to these mood changes rather than viewing them as inherently problematic. The author’s strategy involves recognizing these feelings without judgment, continuing commitments despite them, and refraining from making major decisions during these low periods, which has led to shorter and less intense cycles over time.

Day 296 – Our Cyclical Nature

This article explores the idea that human physiology and mood patterns are deeply influenced by ancient evolutionary cycles, similar to a bear’s hibernation and feasting. It suggests that modern life creates a mismatch with these ingrained rhythms, leading to struggles like seasonal mood changes. The author proposes acknowledging and understanding these natural ebbs and flows for a more harmonious life.

Day 295 – Don’t Give Up on Us

This piece offers encouragement to those who consistently choose goodness despite human flaws like lying, cheating, and selfishness. It acknowledges the ingratitude and disappointment they may face but emphasizes their crucial role in preventing humanity’s moral collapse. The author expresses gratitude and admiration for their unwavering mercy and hope, urging them not to give up.

Day 294 – Heaping on Value

This article explores the concept of value proposition, emphasizing that value is subjective and deeply personal. It highlights the importance of understanding individual needs and tailoring communication to resonate with them, suggesting a strategic approach of starting with a succinct description to gauge initial reactions and refine subsequent communication.

Day 293 – For What It’s Worth

This piece explores the common phrase “for what it’s worth,” examining its linguistic function as a humble preface to opinions or information. It delves into the phrase’s historical origins, tracing its use back to the 1830s, and its popularization through Buffalo Springfield’s 1966 hit song, “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound).” The article concludes by highlighting the phrase’s role in fostering modest and open communication.

Day 292 – It is Crazy Until it Works

True innovation often faces initial skepticism and ridicule, with history showing many groundbreaking ideas were once dismissed as ‘crazy.’ This pattern reveals that success often comes to those willing to take risks and challenge conventional thinking, even if it means a lonely and difficult path.

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More Blogs

Day 285 – Everyday Fountain of Youth

A wilderness trip highlights the profound importance of water, contrasting the struggle for it in nature with its abundance at home. This experience connects to the ancient legend of the Fountain of Youth, suggesting that clean, accessible water is a daily miracle often taken for granted.

Day 284 – Go the Opposite

This article explores the concept of “going the opposite” when the majority is moving in one direction. It argues that while the crowd isn’t always wrong, opportunities often emerge when everyone adopts the same strategies, making alternative approaches more valuable and noticeable. The author uses the example of a personalized real estate solicitation to illustrate how standing out through genuine effort and personal attention can be highly effective in a world saturated with automated and generic communication.

Day 283 – Stepping Off the Hedonic Treadmill

This article explores the concept of the hedonic treadmill, our tendency to return to a baseline level of happiness despite positive life changes. It discusses the interplay between ambition and contentment, suggesting that a fulfilling life requires both the drive to achieve and the ability to appreciate what we have in the present moment.

Day 282 – Building Requires a Plan

This article uses the unique example of Bishop Castle to illustrate the critical difference between persistence and purposeful planning. While admirable, persistence alone doesn’t guarantee a useful or sustainable outcome; effort needs direction to build something intentional and lasting.

Day 281 – Rebuild without Becoming Bitter

This article explores the resilience of the Acadian and Cajun people, who, despite immense loss and displacement, refused to lose their identity. It highlights their ability to rebuild without bitterness, adapt to new influences, and maintain their culture, offering a powerful lesson for anyone facing personal loss.

Day 280 – The Impatience Trap

This article explores how impatience can masquerade as productivity, leading to switching tools prematurely rather than investing the time to learn and master a single one. It highlights the importance of distinguishing between genuine progress and the false promise of novelty when facing frustration.

Day 279 – Effects of Artificial Stress

After a challenging week backpacking in the wilderness, the author found their sleep quality dramatically improved compared to their restless nights at home. This experience highlighted the difference between ‘real’ stress encountered in nature and the constant ‘artificial’ stress from digital demands, suggesting that true rest may depend on the absence of these pervasive digital pokes at our nervous system.

Day 278 – The Process of Letting Go

This article redefines repentance as a practical method for letting go of past mistakes, emphasizing honesty, responsibility, self-forgiveness, and reframing the narrative to foster growth and move forward. It offers a structured approach to processing past actions without being paralyzed by them.

Day 277 – Root Cause Analysis

This article explores the concept of identifying and addressing the root causes of problems, rather than just treating symptoms. It uses the metaphor of a tree growing around a railroad spike to illustrate how small, unaddressed issues can become deeply embedded and harder to fix over time. The author emphasizes the value of problem discovery as a discipline that requires patience, courage, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious.