Willpower and Consistency

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I've been listening to the Book Willpower Doesn't Work – Discover the hidden keys to Success by Benjamin Hardy. At first, the book was a bit too dry, but I'm into chapter fice now and it's making more sense. The bottom line is if we create a plan where we will just have to “hunker down” or ” Suck it up” and that is the one strategy we are going to heavily lean upon, we are setting ourselves up to fail.

I went the movies last weekend to see Ready Player One. While I'm not a gamer, I am a child of the 80's and the movie was good. What wasn't good is my friend buying popcorn. I'm supposed to be avoiding corn at all costs. My two biggest weakness when it comes to food? Popcorn, Ice cream, and if I had to pick a third, Pizza. I told myself going in, I was going to be OK. I ate a protein bar before I went to the movies. While I didn't eat half a bucket like I did previously, I did have a handful or three. While you can say, “Well you should've hunkered down,” or “You're selling yourself too short,” or “What are you supposed to live a life of a monk?” in the end I put myself in an environment that currently is not healthy for me.

There is something to be said about your environment and Hardy points out that it is the environment that often shapes the person, not the person shaping the environment. Case in point, when a chick is hatching from its egg, it's somewhat hard to watch

Yet if we helped the chick, that help might end up hurting the chick more than help it as it builds its strength getting out of the shell. It might not even live.

How Do You Feel In Different Environments

Today was the first day it hit 70 degrees in Ohio. I went for a bike ride, and later walked around a small pond tonight with the breeze in my hair. It was wonderful. I couldn't help but smile. When I got on trips for work, before I leave I always clean my kitchen spotless. Why? Because when I come home from a long trip to a sink full of dishes, it just sucks the life out of me.

Another Book Talking About Your Morning Ritual

Earlier in the year I was getting up at 6 and going to the gym. Then I started to stay up later, and now I can't get up (again, trying to rely on “pushing through”). When I start off my day in the right direction, I start off proud of myself and that leads to confidence which leads to me making the proper choices.

Journaling

He mentions that of meditation, prayer, and journaling, journaling is the most important. Writing helps you get focused and can boost your efforts by 10 by writing them down (or adding them in a digital journaling app.

I use Penzu (web-based, iOs, Android), other popular apps are Day One (iOs, Android, Mac), and Journey (although when you buy the upgrade on Journey it's only for that platform – All Platforms)

Lack Of Willpower Can Lead to InConsistency

I exported all the data out of my fitness pall going back many years. Going back 7 years I've lost 197.5 lbs. so for me to say I can't lose weight is a lie.

The problem is over the last 7 years I've gained over 416 lbs (roughly) which is why I'm at 218. So it's not a matter of losing weight, its a matter of consistency.

Keys to being Consistent

Keep an eye on your why (this is where the journaling helps)

Don't try to do it all at once – pick your battle (singular)

Schedule it – Don't prioritize your schedule, schedule your priorities – Steven Covey

Don't beat yourself up. If you fall off the wagon, get up and chase it down and get back on.

“In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.”

Anthony Robbins

Another article I read said this:

Start off with a Morning Ritual

Do things even if you don't want to (cause you're changing things up and HUMANS HATE CHANGE)

Focus on the process – not the results

Find and do what you love – and then do it

Let go of self-images

Write down what you want