Today I broke the ice on my workout routine. Woo hoo! Some kind of nasty flu bug hit me in late July and laid me out. I was slammed to the pavement and stomped on – metaphorically speaking. So, here we are in early September. I still have a residual cough, and have been avoiding avoiding physical exertion – until today! Today, at 5:21 I awoke and did not feel like getting up. Thank God I no longer rely on my feelings to determine my actions.
Feeling like laying in bed longer was tempting, BUT I knew better. I knew that my illness had subsided (for the most part), and I knew it was time to resume a morning exercise routine. So, I used the 5 Second Rule (Mel Robbins) and launched myself out of bed. Yes! I was up and out the door in short order.
I know myself, and I felt like doing 100 air-squats this morning. I remembered all the times in the past when I jumped back into working out too fast – only to pay the price of debilitating soreness. So, I did what I knew was right and limited my effort to 55 air-squats and 25 pushups. As my Australian friend Andre used to say, “Tortoise and the hare mate!” I will add more reps incrementally each day until I surpass where I was before the flu kicked by butt. and then continue improving.
I know what to do, you know what to do. We know what to do! Knowledge is easily gained, no longer the limiting factor; the problem is hesitation in-between knowledge and action. The answers are within us, or easily discovered. My current goal is to continue using the 5 Second Rule and make it a foundational habit within the 365 Commitment framework.
After writing this blog, I will create my list of important actions to take and prioritize them. This is a 365 “have to.” Make a daily list each morning! BUT, beware the problem. Things on our list that are important and meaningful usually have some risk or discomfort associated with them; and when we contemplate taking action we will experience powerful feelings emerging to protect us – hesitation will derail you. When you “Know” the action item on your list is the right thing to do then disregard feelings and launch into action. Countdown “5-4-3-2-1 and launch” yourself into action.
This habit of counting down and launching into what you know is right is foundational to getting unstuck. Make taking immediate action and banishing hesitation (when you “know” it’s right) your first habit. Mel Robbins says that doing the countdown as a mental trigger will feel novel at first, like a trick, but over time when practiced daily will become a habit that triggers feelings of courage and resolve.
Mistakes will still happen (sometimes we are wrong). But, at least you will not have to suffer from looking back and saying “I knew what to do, but failed to do it.” That one really sucks.
Trust yourself and trust God (or the “universe” if religion is not your thing). Your life is not random or meaningless or simply material. We are conscious living beings on an incredible life journey. It takes life to love life, don’t let bad habits like hesitation and fear keep you from acting on what you know is right for you. Make taking immediate action and banishing hesitation (when you “know” it’s right) your first habit.
Ben Wagner (229)
Member The365Commitment
