Good habits support so much more than just goal achievement.
I was out paddling in the ocean recently, off the coast from my local surf club at North Burleigh, when I noticed something different about my surroundings. I head out early in the morning most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, which over time has become a habit I’ve enjoyed post my professional athletic career. On this day however, something caught my eye.
On my way back to the club, about half way through the session, I experienced something worth savouring. To my right across the ocean, was a beautiful sunrise and to my left over the hinterland, was a magnificent sunset. I stopped paddling, dropped my legs over the side of the ski and let what was genuinely a beautiful display, take my breath away for just a few minutes. No one else was paddling with me on this occasion, so I was alone and it was truly a soul expanding moment.
When our habits are in line with large goals they take us towards these goals quickly, but the thing that’s sometimes lost along the way is one of the best things about having good habits. They can often provide us with magnificent experiences. Experiences we might otherwise not have enjoyed, without having committed to the habit in the first place.
Good habits don’t just accelerate goal achievement and support a disciplined life, they create moments of perfection, as fleeting as they may be, within them.
Over time, I have come to realise that it’s these moments we should seek in the habits we create. Whilst we all have habits that aren’t necessarily good for us, which is a whole other topic, if we focus on what’s needed as a framework to build them, we can create good habits that produce magnificent experiences.
I believe we need three key things to create a habit that takes us forward and where possible, promotes these experiences.
- Firstly, we need a clear goal. In simple terms, a reason for the habit to exist.
- Secondly, we need to wilfully commit to a specific behaviour over a period of time. This involves us choosing to take action at the discretion of all else, until our action becomes ingrained or is recognised as a habit.
- Thirdly, we need to attach some form of emotional wellbeing to the habit. This might include a reward or the personal fulfilment that comes with building the habit, which you savour as a result.
Once you’ve successfully built a habit, it is wise to review it. This allows you to ensure it doesn’t become an unwanted behaviour or a bad habit. Ask yourself, is it taking me towards my goal and is it serving me great opportunities and experiences as a result? If not, then you might need to consider amending it slightly or dropping it altogether.
Good habits support so much more than just goal achievement.
When you recognise and experience these wonderful moments, which only present themselves as a result of you taking action, you need to allow yourself time to truly enjoy them, because they’re worth savouring.
These moments are often personal, as only you know about and can relate to them, but that doesn’t make them any less significant. Be sure to celebrate them because they only eventuate as a result of the effort you committed to creating the habit, gifting you your own little private life victory.
