Focus on starting
The skill to master is getting started. You don't have to exercise for half an hour; you only need to start.
Often, we're supposed to do a new habit, and we procrastinate, turn to distractions, and rationalize our resistance.
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Feedback is essential when you learn a new skill. However, when people learn the skill of 'creating new habits,' they think making mistakes is a sign of being a failure and showing an utter lack of discipline.
In reality, this is not true. No one mastered anything on their first few attempts — it takes practice to get good at anything.
Overcome your mind's resistance to get started by saying, "I'm all in. I'm going to start today." Then get moving. If you're not good at this, commit to making a small habit change this instant.
Many people want to learn a language or start exercising, but then don't take action. It is because they haven't really committed to getting started.
Our minds are good at coming up with rationalizations, especially when we're procrastinating on something:
- It's too hard.You don't need to suffer like this.
- You deserve a break.You'll do it tomorrow.
The skill to master is to recognise this rationalization process in action. Be mindful of it. Once you become aware of it, come up with counterarguments for each rationalization.
People fail to realise how important developing the habit skill is. They have a specific idea of what their habit will be like, and when it doesn't go according to plan, they feel guilty and think they're a failure.
Overcome this with a flexible mindset. If you forget to do the habit, adjust by coming up with reminders. If you procrastinate on social media block it until 5 p.m.
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While pursuing a new habit, or eradicating an old one, we often experience a dip in motivation, focus and energy. This is due to many factors, like loss of motivation due to any internal or external difficulty, or getting sidetracked by life.
A habit dip is a temporary fall and can be a learning experience if we endure it.
The feeling of having something is temporary, lasting just a day or two. What we really want in life isn’t acquired and we still feel uncertain and in deep insecurities.
Our belongings become mere toys that soothe us for a short while and then provide us with stress, uncertainty and anxiety while turning into clutter.