Scientific studies have shown that keeping a journal has many benefits, such as increased awareness, memory, and communication skills. Studies have also shown that writing in a journal can lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system, greater self-confidence, and an I.Q.
Keeping a journal can be intimidating, and one of the hardest parts of starting a journal exercise is figuring out where to start.
Who Do You Want to Be January 1?
Each challenge you face is an opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve. Knowing this means that we should accept adversity, but so often, it makes us shrink. Why?
The answer to this is a bit complicated, but it is essentially biological. There is a part of our brain called the basal ganglia that wires our minds and actions to the known, so if we want to create change, we need to understand how to change our brain.
Fear can be a real obstacle to growth. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed and start thinking negatively when things go awry. When something wrong happens, remember your first reaction. It is quite common to think, “Why is this happening to me?” Spend too much time trapped in this thought cycle, and it can limit your opinion of yourself and the future. But I’ve noticed that the most successful people I’ve worked with have one thing in common: They are deeply convinced that the future will be better than the past.
Now that you know what you want and who you become let’s move on to the next question.
What’s On Your Quit List?
What’s the biggest challenge to being the person you want to be in 90 days? It could be the power of gratification.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce has been on the rise in the United States. The United States. Census Bureau said e-commerce grew 31.8% between the first and second quarters of 2020. Now we can get everything we want with just a swipe on our phone: our favorite T.V. show, a pizza, a new pair of sneakers.
It’s great to think about the world we live in, but it also presents challenges in staying on track. When we do things that make us happy in a short period, we lose the ability to create a more meaningful engagement. Getting the life that you want takes work and often a lot of sacrifice in the short term.
What Do You Want Your Morning Routine to Be?
As you work towards achieving your goals, you will always face setbacks. But one way to overcome these setbacks is by staying in a positive frame of mind so that you can be the best version of yourself.
It is important to have routines and rituals, good habits that are carried out consistently. I have spent quite some time studying top performers and have noticed that many of these people practicing a regular morning routine. It’s what I call ‘the art of starting’, and if you win the morning, you are in a better position to win the day.
Why is that? A morning routine puts you in a focused state of mind. It centers and calms you down, and it also allows you some small victories they can bring into your day. For example, I make my bed every morning. It’s my first win of the day, and that small win helps give me the positive momentum and confidence to move on.
I don’t succeed every morning, but I feel so much better about what the day brings in my path when I start my day like this.
Everyone’s morning routine is different. But the most important thing is consistency so that you can be best prepared to be your best in service to others.
Who’s on Your Personal Board of Directors?
Do you have a mentor? Otherwise, this is a suggestion I would highly encourage. A good mentor inspires you, extends you, teaches you, develops you, guides you, challenges you, holds you accountable, and offers you a safe space to learn, grow and develop your potential. I like to find mentors who are a little further down a journey that I aspire to travel or who have specific skills or expertise that I need. That’s why I have more than one.
So think about what you want to learn and what skills you need to cultivate. Take note. In your own life, who do you have access to who can provide the specific support you need? Why do you admire and respect them so much? What mutual value could you offer? When do you formalize the invitation to become a member of your PBOD?
What’s Your TAN Plan?
I know you want to be a more resilient and motivated person on January 1. But it’s easy to get caught up in your daily life and lose sight of your goals.
Only you can get where you want to be. So before clicking on the next tab, please create a TAN Plan. “TAN” stands for “Take Action Now,” and you need to start acting tomorrow if you are the best version of yourself on January 1. So jot down the three things you’ll do tomorrow to start propelling yourself on your journey.
You haven’t decided until you have taken action! So, if a significant change is essential, let’s choose and commit right now. I cannot think of a better first diary entry!
