Day 80 – Taking the List Seriously

For those of you following  the 365 Commitment, you know that waking each morning and creating a list is part of the process. However, we should definitely consider that as more then just making a list. In my mind you are deciding what you are going to use this precious time for today. You are deciding each morning – if I were to accomplish this list, then I would have not only had a productive day but I would be closer to achieving my goals.

If I were to accomplish this list that I wrote down, would I at the end of the day, feel really good about what I have accomplished? Would I mark today down as a day worth spent? Importantly, as you sit down to write this list – are you focused on what is really important to you and to those you love? Are you bogged down by meaningless activity, with trivial details of living life or are you really focused on making sure that despite all that happens today I am going to accomplish these one or two things that will have a direct and immediate impact on my lifelong ambitions?

I am on day 80 now. I am 10 days away from getting to the magic 90 number. When I started I felt that 90 days was an eternity away, and impossible point that I would never reach. Here I am now almost to that point and one of the most powerful things I have learned in this habit forming process is that I need to take each step of The 365 Commitment seriously.

For example, in making the morning list. I could accomplish this step by simply writing a few words down and organizing them. I might put “write blog” down as one of my steps. I can feel somewhat better about the day, when at the end I can put a check mark next to that line of text in my notebook. However, lately I am spending more time on that list. Instead of “write blog,” I am now recording something to the effect – “write a blog article that encourages people to take their morning planning session seriously.” The difference in these two entries is remarkable. As I write each step now – I consider the impact I want that action to make on my life or the lives of others.

So today I have 8 entries on my morning list and each one is a sentence, instead of just a phrase. A sentence that conveys what I am really trying to accomplish with that task today. True, I have to make a judgement call on whether or not I actually encouraged or inspired anyone today. Perhaps one or more of you will actually comment on this blog post and let me know if I achieved this or not?

Guy Reams (80)
365 Member