You Better, You Bet
Better, How?: Self-commitment is the first step in seeking self-improvement. So, where do you start? Make a list of everything that you want to achieve. From that list, select no more than three things that will give you the most joy. Write each of these items on a new page entitled “Goals”. A short list of goals enables us to to prioritize our activities for the day, week & month. Use each goal page to create a written plan for developing the knowledge, skills & habits needed to reach the goal. The practice of writing down self-improvement goals is essential in development self-commitment. If you can’t write it, it will be difficult to achieve it.
Read? Learn?: It is difficult to get better if you don’t increase your knowledge. Start by reading what you know and then, go deeper. There is always someone with more knowledge and with more experience. Break through your current way of thinking. Find out about different approaches to reach your goal; find out the mistakes to anticipate; find out how to overcome setbacks and most of all, find out what will work for you. Even if you have a coach, mentor or trainer, it’s important to read & learn as it will broaden your knowledge & your commitment to improving yourself. What are you currently reading? Is it helping you to achieve your self-improvement goals?
Go-To-Bed Plan: Before you go to bed, know what you will do tomorrow to help you with your self-improvement plan. You need a plan. What will you eat, tomorrow? When will you exercise, tomorrow? How will you practice your gratitude, tomorrow? Who will you contact, tomorrow? How will you save or spend your money, tomorrow? What will you do to improve your work environment/practice, tomorrow? And most of all, who will help you achieve your plan, tomorrow? Writing these actions under each goal will help you to develop your self-improvement plan.
Better Habit; Better Routine: Consistency drives improvement. Even when something does not work as planned, consistency at doing it & improving it will help you reach your goal. If it’s too hard to be consistent and you really want to develop a better habit or routine, make the activity easier to do. It’s better to be consistent but to do less than not do anything at all. If you can’t go to the gym, walk around the block. If you can’t eat three healthy meals, eat one. If you can’t read 30-minutes per day, read two pages. By doing less & being consistent, we give priority to our self-improvement goals. Doing something consistently reinforces our thinking that we want to achieve a healthier & happier self.
Better Interest: Sometimes, when we want to get better at something, we jump into it motivated & excited. But after some time, the motivation & excitement may dwindle. And well, that’s okay. Be kind to yourself & recognize it as part of the process & not a failure. Ask yourself, what are you going to do to create more interest? Find others to support you. Read about how others have overcome challenges. Add fun to the activity or practice. Learn something new about your goal. Invest time with like-minded people. Recognize your most recent achievements. Self-improvement takes time. By adding interest to your self-improvement goals, you will stay motivated & excited.
Better Accountability: When we were in school, our teachers & parents kept us accountable. Sometimes, they kept us accountable to goals that we didn’t even like. Now that we are grown up, who are the people that are helping us to be accountable to our self-improvement goals. Sometimes, life gets in the way or we might get discouraged. That’s why we all need help. We need someone to cheer on our successes and to inspire us through our struggles. Share your goals & priorities with trusted family, friends or organizations and ask for their help. Give them permission to inquire how you are doing with achieving your goals. They will help you stay accountable and they will support you in reaching your goals. We all need help and if you don’t ask for it, you won’t get the help that we all need.