What is the Purpose Behind Your Practice?

       

Have you ever given thought to what’s the purpose behind your practice?  My purpose is to implement the change I need to form the habits I want.

I recently read an article by James Clear, entitled How Long Does itActually Take to Form a New Habit? (Backed by Science)

For years people like  Zig Ziglar to Brian Tracy and Tony Robbins have eluded to Maxwell Maltz’s observations from the 1950’s as:  “Change your life in 21 days.  That’s how long it takes to form a new habit.”

Actually, that is not what Dr. Maltz stated. 

He indicated it was a minimum of 21 days for someone to become accustomed and notice a physical change, like a face lift!

It takes years to form new habits.  It takes lots of purposeful  practice and major adjustments in your life.  It’s work and it’s not easy.  

Most of you know,  I read A LOT of books.  This last year, I learned according to recent studies, very few adults are really willing to make the sacrifices change requires. (Statistics state: 5% of adults will change their behavior)

The real question is: Are you a part of the 5% or are you part of the 95% who simply stay the same.

Oh and by the way, even when you purpose to change you will mess up that is where the practice comes in - Mess up, get back up, dust yourself off and get back into the game of life.   That’s LIFE (Learn, Implement, Fail, Evaluate…Learn, Implement, Fail, Evaluate) Building better habits is not an all-or-nothing process.

As Mr. Clear says, “At the end of the day, how long it takes to form a particular habit doesn’t really matter that much. Whether it takes 50 days or 500 days, you have to put in the work either way.  The only way to get to Day 500 is to start with Day 1. So forget about the number and focus on doing the work.” 

  

So, what’s the purpose behind your practice?

Congratulations Amber!

Early summer is graduation time.

From preschool to graduate school, students amble across platforms, cap and gown on to celebrate their accomplishments. 

Friends, siblings, parents and grandparents beam with pride as milestones are reached. 

Last Friday I had the opportunity to celebrate with a young lady, Amber Benn, as she graduated from Pima Medical Institute.  It was a fun evening and a true indication of  how hard she has worked.  It was a great accomplishment! 

Amber on the left

Sitting in the auditorium my mind went back to other ceremonies:my own graduation, that of our children and many other’s commencement day. 

Graduations have a soft spot in my heart. 

Graduates work hard - they put in long hours, sacrifice of money and time with family.  There are no “instant gardens” in this accomplishment.  It takes prowess, mastery, competence, capability, proficiency, aptitude and simply drive to reach a goal.

Oh, maybe you’ve not heard my “instant garden” story.  An “instant garden” is what you get when you go to the garden store and spend $200 and buy plants in full bloom with fruit ready to pick. 

It’s not planting, watering, weeding, and cultivating.That is the know-how to an accomplishment.

Even after graduation life is like that: no “instant” fixes

Neuroscientists say we continually graduate in our thinking and understanding of life.  We choose what we focus on.  Where we spend our days.  How we work through sleepless nights.  What sacrifices we make for family and friends. 

LIFE is an accomplishment, something to live and achieve successfully one day at a time.

Recently I heard an acronym for LIFE.  It stands for

Learn, Implement, Fail, and Evaluate. 






I thought that was cool.

So congratulations to all the 2015 Graduates - from grade school to graduate school we are proud of you!

Now, as my Mom would say:








Apply what you learned and love LIFE!