A general rule for building habits is to choose your action and be consistent in execution. This can include elements such as time, place, and tools.
You intentionally create habits.
It’s as simple as it sounds. Any action you repeat consistently, daily or more often, will become a habit. With intention, you create good habits.
You unintentionally create habits.
Choose carefully what you do consistently. It’s just as easy to create less desirable habits. They will sneak into your life.
As a classroom teacher with two small children at home, exhaustion claimed me on Friday nights. Survival meant Friday was pizza night. Frozen pizza. The least effort. We have been empty nesters for over ten years. This Friday we will have pizza. It’s our habit.
Pizza once a week is not the worst habit. With intention, we can add good habits to our life. It takes a conscious effort. Like a child learning, change starts with small steps. Choose a small step. Practice the small step daily. You will see the effect of consistency.
Consciously choose what you do consistently to develop good habits.
7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good
I’m grateful for Thanksgiving. It’s the beginning of the holiday season in the USA. It makes me think of family and giving to others.
Quote: “Consistent, continuous improvement requires consistent, continuous action. For me, this means that if I want to improve at something, I will do that something every single day.” Sahil Bloom. Speaking of Bloom, his latest newsletter is well worth the read.
I’m grateful for the freedom to make tiny changes. Steps towards developing a habit should be easy to do, even when you don’t feel like it. Make them tiny.
The Hubble Telescope sends us the most magnificent photos from space. Scan The pictures in Ethan Siegel’s article about Hubble’s most beautiful star-forming images reminds me how looking up at the stars makes us silent with awe. Note Seigel’s last words. “Talk less; smile more.”
Recently a good friend took us to family day at the Michoud Assembly Plant, where NASA assembles the rocket boosters for space exploration. The size of the facility and the boosters are enormous. Small ideas can become grand adventures.
My writing friend Sandra has a blog and newsletter you will enjoy, particularly if you love the ocean. Her inspirational writing is a good thing to have in your life.
Now is a good time to practice tiny steps toward writing gratitude.
Thank you for reading!
Make a tiny change,
-Susan
P. S. If you enjoyed this newsletter, share it with a friend!
Matt Hogan's Blog today -
I don’t care what anybody says…
Forcing myself to write daily
Trapping myself in the gym regularly
Locking myself into a monotonous routine
Restricting myself to a tight eating window
Limiting my access to certain people/ media
…is the ultimate expression of freedom.
https://matthogan.blog/
Thanks for making me think! 🙏💙
"Intentionally or unintentionally we create habits", we have the freedom to choose what to do? What are we leveraging that freedom for today?
Thanks for sharing, Susan. 🤗♥🙏🏼