Did you ever play “hot lava” or “sharks in the water” as a kid? This basically entailed throwing pillows and couch cushions on the floor and jumping from couch to chair to pillow without touching the floor, lest you get burned by the lava or eaten by the shark. I’m pretty sure we have all played some type of version of this game.
This game is similar to successfully achieving your ONE THING.
It’s not a straight line. It may require small steps and, occasionally, big leaps. There are obstacles. Sometimes you fall in and have to start over. It’s fun. It’s challenging. And in the case of real life, it can be frustrating and disappointing. But it is all a part of the process.
Understand that any change you want to make also requires a mindset ready for change.
You must give room for failure along with the small steps forward, knowing that it is all leading toward your success.
Understand that true change happens when you change your habits and that requires patience, time and self-compassion.
With this in mind, let’s start on the action plan to meet your goal. Grab your piece of paper with your ONE THING on it and ask yourself the following question:
What habits will you need to replace or change in order to meet this goal?
Before you write these down, think about habits in terms of actions and thoughts.
For example, if your goal is to lose weight, one action you may need to replace is drinking pop. One thought you may have a habit of thinking that needs replacement is, “I’m so lazy.”
Write down your answers……be as thorough and as comprehensive as you can be.
You may start to feel overwhelmed looking at the list. You may start to feel a little anxious or have seeds of doubt. Understand that this is normal response when we start to dig a little deeper into who we are as habitual creatures. Don’t let the start stop you.
Also understand that this list could just be the tip of the iceberg on feelings and actions that are troublesome in your life. It’s okay! You have to start somewhere. Please don’t turn back now.
And remember, there is no right or wrong way to do this……doing it is the most important thing.
Once you are done with this habit list, you will have what you need to create your action plan.
At this point you should have your ONE THING picked, your values inventory done, your readiness assessed and a list of habits you will need to replace/change in order to accomplish your ONE THING.
If all of these are done, proceed to STEP FIVE.
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