Do you wish to progress as a person? Growing Towards Excellence is a phrase that can be used to describe a process. I am convinced that if I performed a survey asking people this question, I would receive a resounding YES!
Let me ask you a question:
“Who started today by identifying one thing to be aware of and work on in order to improve as a person?”
When I asked this question yesterday, only one person in a room full of people said yes.
Many of us have wants and aspirations in our lives that we would like to see realised, but we are not actively pursuing them. It might be difficult to make the connection between what is happening today and what we wish to see happen in the future. However, the choices we make and how we spend our time and energy now are preparing us for the future.
Most people want to be the best version of themselves, but are discouraged by what appears to be a big mountain to climb in order to get there. We live near Burnaby Mountain and walk the dogs there frequently. There’s a really wonderful trail near the bottom that follows along the bank of a stream and is sheltered by trees. The notion of walking home up the steep slope, on the other hand, is terrifying. It’s hard for me to walk up it without pausing at some point. Every step toward the top of the hill feels like a huge effort, and I eventually come to a standstill to catch my breath. However, looking back, it’s amazing to realise how far I’ve come. My entire perspective changes! Walking is a process that is mostly automatic.
We walk with our minds on other things unless the going gets tough. We make progress, but not in a planned manner. Because humans have formed a natural habit of walking, this is the case. This is true in both life and the skills we develop. As we gain more expertise and familiarity with the abilities, the mechanics of driving a car become second nature, and we no longer have to think about each step. It almost becomes second nature to us, like breathing.
To consistently progress in our lives, we must adopt new habits that will assist us in achieving our goals. At first, introducing a new behaviour, thought pattern, or action into our daily lives is a highly deliberate act. It’s like scaling the steepest hill on the mountain. We are, however, still at the beginning of the process. In as little as thirty days, a new habit can be created. Then, over time, that positive behaviour gets ingrained in our life. It progresses to a level of our life that is more subtle.
Pat Riley said, “Excellence is the continual outcome of a constant desire to improve.”
One small step at a time, your journey to higher greatness in your life begins and continues. Making one small step forward every day is far more successful than deciding to take a great leap forward and then failing to make any progress for an extended period of time.
Slow and steady is the right approach, and not seeing results right away might be discouraging. It’s a good idea to set little goals with a motivating reward when they’re met. Having the mindset and habit of continually wanting to improve in all areas of life is advantageous. However, I would advise focusing on one important thing at a time, and then shifting your attention to another area as that becomes more natural in your life. Always – it must be done on a daily basis; it is a small discipline at first, but it quickly becomes a positive habit. Incorporate a time and place in your morning routine where you may pause and reflect on the new lifestyle habit you’re attempting. During this time, think about your specific goals for the day.
What will you do or how will you change a mental habit that will help you grow in that area? Make a goal for yourself every day. It is helpful to read or carry a short sentence or quote that can motivate and remind you of your goal throughout the day. It must be a daily conscious effort, or days missed will turn into weeks, despair will set in, and it will be easy to quit up. Consider keeping a Post-it note in your car or kitchen as a way to refocus throughout the day. The changes you observe when a new habit is established and becomes a part of your existence will astound you.
Simply setting aside a few minutes at the start of your day is a very powerful key that works well. On a regular basis, we all require inspiration and motivation. It’s also a terrific way to kick begin your day and set the tone for the rest of it.
