The definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. By that definition, do you ever wonder if you might be a little bit mad?!
Where do you do the same thing and against all odds, hope for a different result? Is it in relationships? In business? Around your health? At work?
It can be so easy to get into a mental rut, especially with your self-talk
- this is as much as I can expect
- this month just isn’t a great sales month
- if I just work harder
- I know I’m on a diet, but this one…x will be fine
- I can’t do this, I should give up
Any of that sound familiar? Perhaps instead of doing the same old, same old, perhaps its time to try something new. First, you have to accept that you have been doing the same things for a while and not getting anywhere fast. It doesn’t mean giving up, if this is something you really want – you need a pattern interrupt!
In order to change anything, you’ve got to be aware of it first. Take a quick inventory, what is a goal that you keep wanting and keep failing to reach? Once you have identified it, just pick one for now, what do you really need to do differently? Are you prepared to do something different this time? How badly do you want it? What have you already tried? Where do you need support? Sharing your goal with someone can really help with accountability. Social Media is another place you can post how you are doing. Maybe its time to join a community working on this, or hire a trainer or a coach?
I recently re-started a meditation practice. I have failed to be consistent with meditation for several years now. This time, I used an app called Headspace. For 30 days every single day, I added a quote/image from the app to my instagram feed. (rama.kalia on IG if you’re interested!) I kept going for another 17 days, without the daily IG posting and guess what..? Yesterday, I forgot! I was so bummed! How could I have forgotten after 47 days??!?!! I was bummed for a while, sure. Failure is frustrating!!!! And, this goal is important enough to me, that I am willing to get straight back to it. And, it’s time to add something new. I am not going to waste time and energy in beating myself up – Pattern Interrupt #1! I realized this time, that the weekends are the time I slack off, so that is the time I’d like to focus on more. I know, once I am aware of it, I can make a new choice. This time I will add a daily alarm, to check-in with myself each evening, to see if I have completed it yet or not, that’s Pattern Interrupt #2. I know I am more likely to be successful, if I meditate first thing in the morning, so Pattern Interrupt #3 would be to do it within my first hour of being up, especially at the weekend.
It’s not rocket science. I have to be willing to do something different if I want something different!
To get to your new result, its time to try something different. It doesn’t have to be complicated; set a reminder, grab a buddy, tap into a group, get a professional to get you out of your well-worn rut, make it fun! You can do this! And if I can support you in doing something new, email me and let’s talk.
I❤️It!