The new year has come with new cravings — both good and bad:
- 100 pushups in the morning – a small victory under my belt for the day (the equivalent of making the bed for some)
- join in on the 100 days of code challenge
- resize and hem pants because I now know how to do so
- write two pieces for poetry slam competition in December
- buying the 2018 BAA Boston Marathon jacket
The pushups are what I’ve committed to. Everything else can be on the back burner quite honestly. But they’re all so tempting!
When Establishing a Habit, Focus
In reading No Limits by John Maxwell, John mentioned that we all drive down the highway of life and excuses are us exiting off the ramp until we get back on the highway. Driving down the highway can be the same for establishing habits. Lacking focus means taking an exit and maybe even heading back the way we came. You could argue, however, that it means you need to have two cars — one of each highway of habit. I believe it, but you’ll have to work harder to have two cars.
If there’s anything I can get away with doing now, it’d be to resize and hem my pants and maybe even write. That’s because in a way, they’re one time events or can be done at leisure. The 100 days of code requires commitment, and I’m already trying to establish a morning habit and staying on track with training for the Boston Marathon.
Prioritize and Value the End Game
What should you focus on? Goals and results that give you the most happiness for your time and effort.
Now you could say that buying a new item (clothes, gadgets, what have you) is your end game. Here’s a question: Do items or experiences bring you more joy? Perhaps even more lasting joy?
With me, for example, I could either have a jacket now for saying that I’m training for the marathon. Or I can train now, run the marathon, and can now proudly answer people asking me about any marathon (volunteer) jacket I wear. There’s always been a debate about whether you should be able to wear the jacket even though you’ve never run it. I’ll at least have a succinct answer in a few months.
Reason Through Temptation
Wanting a Boston Marathon jacket is quite honestly selfish. I’ve never run a marathon before, and fierce marketing from the sellers has made owning a jacket the thing to do. What made me feel it’s possible in the first place is that I can earn gift certificates from running with Marathon Sports. By the end of this year, technically the jacket would be free. That would also mean betting that the jacket won’t run out by the time I can obtain it.
At the same time, I’m a maximizer. Why buy it at full price when it’s possible for sales to cut the price down by half? That way, I can buy other items to help with winter running.
Additionally, it does say that entrants receive a “long sleeved t-shirt,” meaning I will have a shirt from the event. I also have two Boston Marathon volunteer jackets and will likely have many more to come.
The more I think it through, the more I see why I don’t need this jacket — now or ever.
All said and done, if I can obtain this jacket for free at a discounted rate, I’ll pull the trigger. And if it’s not available, I won’t mind. It’s always a risk to wait until the circumstances change. So until then—
Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.
— John Maxwell
Like this:
Like Loading...