It’s simple…but not easy!
Many things in life are simple, but not easy. There’s a reason why 60% of Americans essentially never exercise, why 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, why many people have huge regrets at the end of their life for simple things left undone.
Eating healthy is simple. Eat mostly plants and not too much. Almost all successful long-lasting diets center around this. Much easier said than done for me! What about my chocolate chip cookies?
A push-up is simple. Lay on the ground stomach down, push myself up until my arms are fully extended, then lower myself back to the ground. Easy? Ha! Forget it!
Being a good friend is simple. Listen. Laugh. Be there when they’re down. Actually being a good friend, especially during the tough times, isn’t easy when I’m down too.
The problem is mistaking ‘simple’ for ‘easy.’ So how do we succeed at things that are simple but not easy?
The Challenge!
The challenge is simple…but not necessarily easy. It’s the challenge of self-discipline. Which often means making tougher choices, saying no when I don’t feel like it! Resisting temptations, week in and week out, month in and month out…
Some pretty solid tactics for each of us to practice self-discipline:
- Start now, not later. Do it today. Not tomorrow. Give the new steps our highest priority for the next few days. And remember that small steps are successes too.
- Remove temptations from our regular environment. Avoid places where we might be tempted.
- Figure out and implement new routines for our day-to-day life. Find the most efficient way. Renegotiate our commitments.
- Don’t get hung up on individual mistakes. Focus on a new day and recognize that one mistake doesn’t need to derail us.
Self-discipline means we are always doing something to improve each and every day while avoiding things that undo our progress each and every day.
P.S. Sometimes it comes really easy. Sometimes it comes really hard. And, maybe, I’ll just wait until after the Christmas holidays…
2 Comments
Very well-said!
Guess that means right now, not next week. Next week seems like a much easier time to do it.
Awww, thx for the reminder, Pat.
Merry, holy Christmas.