Don’t go too fast but make it last
Don’t you love it to have a simple sentence or mantra that is an easy reminder of what is essential for you? “Don’t go too fast but make it last” is one of them for me. Just because it sounds smooth? I‘d be happy if that was the case! In the journey to turn dreams into reality, my choice of transportation is habits. Lasting habits to be precise. Therefore the short term is irrelevant.
Going to bed on time for just a week, or meditate for even three months is still less than 1% of your entire life!* This little reminder helps me to stay focused in the long run. But there’s more to it…
“Doing something substantial for a week, or even three months is still less than 1% of your entire life!*”
The start of a new year feels like the first breeze of summer. The energy around the conclusion of a past year and the start of a new one could give you the spark to start something new too. New goals, hobbies, habits, jobs, name it. All this motivation is amazing yet a little dangerous. Call it beginners luck, or willpower, or just the rush of dopamine at the start, when your first habit feels like ‘it’s too easy’ for three days in a row, you could already be thinking about five other things you can change. You could feel like you’re on top of the world and want to do it all, because, at the start — it’s simple, especially when you still have some days off from work.
The very reason most resolutions fail is that strong habits are like a city and Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Besides speed, overly optimistic predictions are another unwelcome passenger. When comparing yourself with others who have already build your habit, it seems very doable! It's like seeing someone else do woodworking on Instagram, yet you don’t see the 10 years of trying, failing, and hard work that’s put into the skill. By managing your expectations knowing that every change is a long journey, you can save yourself from a lot of frustration.
So, if you want to work on strong habits that truly last, start simple, easy, and very small — and most of all, remind yourself every day; Don’t go too fast but make it last!
Which strong and lasting habit would change your life forever?
*Based on the calculation that you live for 75 years, it’s 0.33% to be exact.
