A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.
Mark Twain
What if you had a process?
Losing weight, success at work, going on a vacation – these are goals, outcomes, what you want to happen. Goals are important, but that’s far off, and you really don’t know what’s going to happen between now and then.
A process is something you can do right now, regardless of outcome, and it’s something you can enjoy and have fun with. We will strike a balance between the “what” and the “how”.
It’s been so great to have your kind and steady approach to dealing with all things. My favorite thing was you created a meaningful process to which all of us were invited to contribute. I think it was enriching for all. So thank you for that!
Deborah McKay
Habits that Work
What makes for good personal process and habits. Well, it depends . . . on you. Oh come on Sam, really? Yes, there’s no one-size-fits-all to habits. You’ve already tried that, and it’s not working.
Habits need to be both doable and disruptive. Most importantly a habit has to be beneficial, but you need to fully experience that benefit for it to stick. Helpful habits may already be at your fingertips, but you are just not paying attention to them. How do we pay attention, on purpose? Mindfulness
Change your Brain
When we are working with change, ultimately we want to change our behavior, and changing our behavior means changing the brain.
That’s right, your brain can change. In fact, it is changing constantly, getting ready for the next time a similar thing happens. Your brain is all about survival, and that might mean a brain not focusing on what’s really important, but rather what seems urgent in this chaotic, modern world. Habits and process put us on a path to applying intentional focus.
Sam is smart, creative, a great listener, and an excellent ally to have on your side as you seek to develop new healthy habits.
Ryan Kenny
Some ways I can help
| Issue | Skill | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t get started | Progressive Micro-Tasking | Break projects down to infinitesimally small tasks with full engagement (just opening your laptop with intention can be a transformative experience) |
| Can’t keep going | Capture State | Taking a still photo of where you are, what the next three steps are, coming back to it as if you have never seen this before |
| Tired, burned out | Creative Scheduling | Understanding your personal rhythms, knowing when you are at your best, energy management, working with and celebrating your limits |
| Can’t focus, falling back to distraction | Personal Ritual | Wrapping what’s important with emotional, meaningful rituals that engage the full body and mind |