No Excuses
Another brand spanking new year is upon us. If you're like most rational minded people (okay, I'm giving myself too much credit) chances are you've avoided anything even remotely resembling a resolution like the plague. They never work. You've also inwardly rolled your eyes at friends who get excited for a "fresh start." Because, honestly, why do you need the calendar for that? But I have to admit that for the first time in my life, I'm actually allowing myself to anticipate 2013 with excitement, a bit of wonder and utter confidence that it will be better than 2012. I can also understand the sense of relief one can get in thinking the clock has been restarted. Now there seems to be a viable reason to believe in the possibility of new things -- in a way you just can't muster in the middle of June. I was reading the weekly newsletter from one of my favorite bloggers today, rev.is (Amber Rae) and was inspired to give myself the first resolution I've ever had. The writer (Natalie Sisson) of the newsletter talks about simplifying your goals. She focused on one goal in 2012, completed it and everything that happened after was based on it. Hm...I have like several big goals I'm working on and have been in the last year. I thought to myself, "How can I simplify that without giving them up? Is there one more important than the others? And how do I qualify them?" And then it occurred to me that from one simple goal, I can maximize my productivity potential in all areas of my life. NO EXCUSES. Sound cheesy? Heard it before? Of course. Ever really thought about the power it could have to transform your life? Perhaps not. I'm hungover today, and I'll tell you what, last week I would have used it as a reason to take a day off, relax, after all I work every day. I deserve it. And then it was cold outside so why should I work out? And I have a lot of work on my plate, so I don't have time to finish my portfolio site today...these are all recent and ubiquitous excuses I've made to not get shit done. But today, I said "NO EXCUSES." And I repeated it every time I got a head pang, and when I felt sick, and tired and the words wouldn't come easily because my brain felt fuzzy. "No. Excuses." I would hold my forehead, take a deep breath and repeat my mantra. I accomplished every small goal I set out to do. And tomorrow I plan on trying it again. One thing I've learned about forming habits is the power of repetition. Simply by reminding myself to appreciate what I have, not what I don't, has allowed me to control all kinds of otherwise pessimistic tailspins. Reading a goal sheet/bucket list every day for a couple of weeks firmly implanted it in my every day conscience. So, repeat after me, "No. Excuses."