So I have been writing this blog everyday for 651 days in a row. In essence, I kept a commitment to write something in a journal like form everyday for 365 days in a row. It is a strangely therapeutic exercise and a great way to keep myself honest in my commitments. It has also been powerfully motivating. I pretend like there are thousands of people watching my progress and I cannot imagine not reporting in without some inspiring success of epic failure. This concept of pushing myself to keep a good habit, everyday for 365 days in a row has led to an interesting course in my life this last two years.
I have adopted many habits along this path. Some of them tiny, some of them significant. Most of my blog content has been centered around these habits. From prayer and meditation, journal keeping, physical fitness, mental exercises I have certainly seen the benefit of making and keeping commitments. I have learned a tremendous amount about how habits are formed and how to do it. I have also become a strong believer that a well disciplined, productive life is only a matter of developing certain key habits. That is the only barrier, our resistance to commit to forming good habits.
I am biased in my thought that the original 365 commitment formula is the best first habit to develop. Effectively the concept of creating a list everyday of what is the most important things to accomplish, praying about them and then making the commitment to do them. This is followed up by an evening routine to see how well you did, also prayerfully. Insert meditation in lieu of prayer or in a addition to. I do both and I am glad for it.
However, you could just pick something and stick to it for 365 days and see what happens to you. I did and my life has taken some interesting turns since. I am happy with the result, and for the first time in decades I have to deal with this interesting strange feeling that I get from time to time now, and that is contentment. I am always restless, anxious, ready to go to the next thing. However, lately this contentment feeling has come about and I do not quite know what to do with that. Maybe, just maybe, I have found some answers and am arriving at a point where I am actually pleased with my progress.
A long way of saying that there is a lot of value in just picking something, even something small and sticking to it for a year. You will find that it will change you, and most likely in ways that you did not consider. I have become a “runner” now and that is the least likely thing that I would have ever considered back when I first started this habit formation process. Little did I know that, I would be heading out my front door to run around my neighborhood 8 times in a row to get to my “long run” commitment for today. That I would be planning to run a “ultra marathon.” That I would actually know what a quality running shoe is, and that I would have 6 pairs in my closet right now.
Of course there is more to the story then my new passion of running, there is a whole lot more. If you followed any of these blogs since I started the one theme all along has been to find a habit that would have the greatest impact on you. Then make a commitment to do that everyday and prove to yourself that powerful transformation in your life literally happens with one small brave act of keeping a habit. So just pick something and see what happens.
Guy Reams (651)
