What do you want but can’t bring yourself to do?
Something simple.
For me, it’s journaling.
I’ve considered it for a decade but it never really happened.
Meditation, yoga, working out… I’m in.
Journaling… nah.
That changed about a month ago when I learned about 750words.com
750words.com uses Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages concept – a form of free writing – and adjust it to the digital world.
This technique from “The Artist Way,” which is meant to be private and free from grammatical rules, helps you reconnect to creativity.
Maybe you’ve heard of Morning pages, maybe not.
My point is: There’s this practice that got my interest a decade ago and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
But once I got support -the website structure, the convenience of typing, the community, the morning email reminder, and the “stacking” it with my morning coffee- it got done.
Lately, my theme has been reconnecting with creativity in all aspects of my life.
By writing about what I think and feel, I move into the “observer” mode, which creates more self-awareness and space between stimulus and response.
Also makes room for new and creative thinking.
So, let’s go back to that practice you can’t bring yourself to do…
Maybe you can’t bring yourself to do it because of lack of convenience, motivation, or organization.
Perhaps, you need a community, or practice stacking new behaviors with existing ones. Maybe the solution is thinking outside the box and simplifying it.
We tend to run towards pleasure and away from pain, but it doesn’t mean we can’t make headway.
So, instead of a full 30-minute mindfulness practice, you can download an app and do 5 minutes before or after coffee.
You can skip the fad diet and train your body to burn fat instead of sugar by shortening the window of feeding, or looking for a fasting community.
And if going to the gym doesn’t suit you, go for walks while listening to your favorite audiobook or podcast. You can invite a friend, spouse, or take your dog.
Many times, I’ve delayed things because I had black-or-white, or all-or-nothing mentality.
I either do it full-out and just like it’s “supposed to be,” or nothing.
(i.e. “Morning Pages have to be handwritten.”)
Maybe you can relate.
But, progress not perfection is the goal.
And done is better than perfect.
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