Finishing is important. I struggle with it sometimes.
I have several projects that have been dragging on for a while. They are important to me otherwise I would simply drop them. There are “good reasons” for letting them languish I tend to take refuge in. For example, I’ll say “I have responsibilities” “I have more important priorities” “I am super busy” “I have a heavy load, therefore I must hold off.” However, there is something that doesn’t sit right. There is a whiff of self- righteousness and obfuscation here I think. Probably more than a whiff. Let’s be honest. Something stinks. It’s not that these claims are not true. They are. They are “true” excuses which raise the question, what am I excusing myself from? What fault or failure am I attempting to absolve myself from?
I’ve got more excuses. Here is a good one, “It’s just my personality, I am a creative artistic type.” Hmmm. This one is pretty stinky too; it attempts to lessen the blame by attaching it to virtuous ability and talent. Wow, very stinky indeed. So what am I turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to? What am I rationalizing with all these reasons? The answer seems obvious. The bad habit of not finishing!
When something is stinky, like well-worn excuses tend to be, use The 365 Commitment to disinfect the place. Shine some bright sunlight on it, get honest with yourself, and call out that bad habit for what it is, BS! Consciously take that bad habit out to the trash by replacing it with a good habit. In my case that means work until finished. You may protest and ask, but what about big projects, what about other commitments? Come on, you know the answer, break them up in to smaller tasks and simply work until you finish each task, one at a time, incrementally.
Finishing is an ethic worth practicing and embracing. For example, when doing the dishes do them all. Which means work until they are all clean and put away. Dishes left in the dishwasher or in the drainer are not done, sorry. Doing most of them is not the same as finishing. You know you are finished when there is nothing left to do. There is a clear end, just like the end of a race. No point in running past the finish line, right? You can’t wash a dish that isn’t there, and you can’t take out the trash when the can is empty with a new bag in place. OK, I know I sound like I am nagging here. I suppose I am. But, the ethic of finishing so important! Why? Because we lose the reward if we fail to finish. Big and small accomplishments bring reward, and you want those rewards. Right? So, finish the race and the dishes! And get that carpet kit in the van, and get that motorcycle put back together! You can see I’m nagging myself here 🙂
The 365 Commitment can help. Put specific tasks on your list each day that are reasonable and don’t let yourself off the hook. Make finishing a habit one incremental task at a time. You will enjoy the accomplishments and the rewards. You’re Finished!
Ben Wagner (90)
Member The 365 Commitment
