So here we sit, the beginning of 2020, with new resolutions, new direction and new passion ready to go! I mean all of us, right? Not just here at Leave the Harbor!
If you noticed, we dipped a bit off at the end of 2019. Once the holidays came around, we were hit with an overload of work and a little bit of neglect, and allowed the rest of the year to fizzle a bit. And that got me thinking. How do things like this happen? How do we have such strong passion and desire for things to get done and continue, and we allow them to slip? And then, once it gets slipping, we let it get even worse?
As I thought about these things, I thought about an article written earlier last year - about the Slight Edge. In the article, we talk about how important doing a series of small things over and over can be, and how those things can compound to great gains when we allow the passage of time and consistency to do their work.
Another thing that has been on my mind quite a bit lately, is the power of what I’m nicknaming “E.S.D”. Every. Single. Decision. Simply put, it means that there is NO decision we make on a day to day basis, that does not have ripple effects into our future. None. From whether we eat a pizza for dinner or whip up a healthy salad, to whether we save any money at all, or save every penny we have, everything we do makes a difference towards getting us to our goals.
To help myself remember this, I’ve created a small checklist for my daily life, with all of the major categories in my life that I want to ensure are progressing forward each day. At the end of the day I have to check off which ones I believe I completed adequately, and make a red “x” on the ones that I honestly did not. Over the weeks I hope to notice patterns in which categories I need to make better progress on or better choices in if I am to reach my goals for 2020.
But “E.S.D” goes beyond that. To fully understand the impact decisions can have on the longer term, we need to keep it in the forefront of our minds every day. In everything we do.
Press the snooze button instead of getting up and getting going? This will impact your longer term ability to get up and be productive. Even just one time - it makes an impact.
Choose to skip breakfast and grab a sandwich at a fast food chain on the way to work, instead of fruit or something healthy? Even just one time - it makes an impact.
Go to the gym at night, or skip it and say you’ll start tomorrow? Even just one time - it makes an impact.
Leave your spouse a nice note before leaving for work, or say you’ll let them know how much you care when you get home? Even just one time - it makes an impact.
Try it out for yourself. Each and every day, every choice you make, just simply say that little phrase to yourself. Every. Single. Decision. Everything matters. See how many choices you make differently knowing they will compound to help you reach your intended end, or pull you in the opposite direction.
Remember - NO decision you make has ZERO impact on your future. EVERYTHING matters!
More to come soon!