Hi Friend
Spring is here! I’m headed out for a quick camping trip after I’m done writing you this morning. Daylight Savings Time immediately created a sensation that there is a lot more of the day to be out and about in. I hope you get out and play.
My kids made me proud this week. With my mom in town, they both made effort to spend quality time with her. We visited my son at college and he was delightful. My daughter didn’t bake this week, but did play hours of Skipbo. It was super fun. Mom flew home on Wednesday, ending our two-week adventure. We’ll have to do it again next year.
I’m still loving the Atomic Habits book. I purchased an app (Success Wizard) that is providing structure to my morning routine. It’s nice when a book causes action beyond good information.
One of the things I like about the app’s morning questions is that it inquires about “New Ideas”. I have ideas. Heck, I have loads of ideas. It’s interesting however to write one down every morning. It feels a little more sacred. I didn’t expect that. It’s fun to have ideas, because they’re just that; in my head, swirling around, ridiculous in every way. But to write them down feels like it creates a sense of obligation.
Granted I’ve written random ideas down frequently. My mind forgets most stuff, so if I want to capture it, I have to write it down. However, it wasn’t a daily disciplined occurrence, but an interesting thought that danced across my mind I grabbed.
Daily Practice & Commitment is a Challenge!
That’s not a revelation to you or me, but now that I’m in it this way, I’m reminded why I haven’t had an ongoing morning routine. It’s extremely difficult to be consistent. Which brings us back to habits – not a thoughtful effort – but an automated program I enter into upon awakening. I’m not there yet.
What’s funny is that being consistent is rather normal. Do you know someone who is consistently on their phone? Or consistently late? Or consistently upbeat? Or consistently frazzled? Whether positive or negative that attribute is a reliable component of expectation.
I suspect all the admirable characteristics I see in my friends are rooted in their consistency. A developed way-of-being that is undeveloped in me strikes an appealing contrast.
Actions
Thoughts
Beliefs
Attitudes
When these four present themselves in a persistent fashion, I take notice. As do you. What’s notable is our capacity to see them in others, but only notice in ourselves when trying to adjust. The only thing consistent about my previous morning routine was that coffee was involved. Thankfully it still is!
It’s scary to answer these questions:
What are my consistent actions I do every day without fail?
What are my consistent thoughts about myself, those around me and the way I see the world?
What are my consistent beliefs around life, purpose, service and destiny that daily impact my choices?
What are my consistent attitudes towards people, money, work and health that daily appear?
I suspect you can find good in all of your answers. It’s when we see alternative approaches that all of a sudden our “consistencies” seem a bit insufficient. What a bummer when we recognize our biggest consistency is being inconsistent. That’s what you can count on from us! 😝
Instigating Ideas…
1. What daily consistency are you most proud of that you’ve incorporated?
2. Of the Four Characteristics which needs the most attention to produce better results in your life?
3. What challenges you to reconsider a current approach to life?
4. Who should you commend for being consistent? Do it.
I have no testimonial here concerning morning routines. I’m in the process of creating one that hopefully becomes habitualized. I do consistently write you this letter every week. Even though it’s embedded in my routines, it still takes work. I think that’s the trick to remaining consistent: Knowing that even when we’re in our groove it requires exerting significant effort.