Self-limiting beliefs.
We all have them but one of the most common I see is “all or nothing” thinking.
People buy into this idea that they have to do it all or they shouldn’t even both. For instance, a person who wants to lose 20 pounds, may start strong and lose 2-3 in the first week. Then it gets harder. The loss goes slower. Finally, they get to seven. Maybe they go on vacation. Then they stagnate and can’t move past that stubborn seven pounds. Instead of celebrating that they’ve lost almost ten pounds or imagining that they’re no longer carrying around the weight of a newborn every day, they get discouraged. Then they eat it back on again because they were supposed to lose 20 and couldn’t do it.
What they fail to see is that seven was a good start.
The same is true when we know we have to do something that requires a time commitment. Some people put off starting a project because they think they only have time for a third of what it takes. But they discount the cumulative effect. They fall prey to “all-or-nothing.”
Not following?
Let’s say you want to write a book but you never seem to have enough time. First, that simply isn’t true. How much time do you spend watching TV? How about driving every day? What time do you get up or go to bed? How much time do you spend waiting for something to start like a meeting or a sporting event? There are many moments in your day that you could “steal” to be more productive.
But there’s that pesky all-or-nothing thinking again.
These struggling authors assume if they can’t sit down and write all day, or at the very least, all morning, they can’t write that book.
But I’m going to share something so basic, you’ll kick yourself for not thinking of it or implementing it sooner.
When you start harnessing all those little moments in your day and you come equipped with the tools to make the most of them, you’ll be surprised at what you are able to do.
If you want to write a book, for instance, get yourself a pocket notebook to carry with you at all times (or use your phone). When you have even a minute in your day waiting for a meeting to start or a friend to join you for coffee, take out that notebook or phone and jot down your thoughts. At the end of the month, you could have several pages you’ve completed in those stolen moments. A few months from now, you could have 50. By the end of the year, you might have an entire book written that you can then hand to an editor to get it into shape.
And you didn’t think you had time to write your book!
Stop thinking that you have to work on your dreams in big chunks. You can be just as successful chipping away, little by little. Eventually, you’ll see your bite-sized hard work pay off in a cumulative way.
Hard work, dedication, and consistency compound over time.
Even money does.
Ask any financial planner and they’ll tell you, small savings don’t stay small over time. You don’t need hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest to become a millionaire. Small savings and consistent investment contributions are better than none.
I don’t care if you want to get healthier, write that book, or build wealth. Just make the commitment today with whatever time or resources you have available now. Don’t fall victim to “all or nothing” thinking.
Start small. Be consistent. Watch your efforts grow. Attain your dreams.
As author Karen Lamb wrote, “A year from now, you may wish you had started today.” Ms. Lamb is only partially right. You WILL wish you had started today.