“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” William James
What we do daily adds up for better or worse. Focusing on the right things makes our life meaningful and brings daily joy. Forming and sticking with new habits are key to our long-term success in going in the direction we choose for ourselves. Keep it simple by starting with one habit at a time so your effort is sustainable and lasting.
“All day long, you are selectively paying attention to something, and much more often than you may suspect, you can take charge of this process to good effect. Indeed, your ability to focus on this and suppress that is the key to controlling your experience and, ultimately, your well-being.”― Winifred Gallagher, Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life
In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg’s says that every habit starts with a psychological pattern call a “habit loop” consisting of three parts:
1. Cue/Trigger – it tells your brain to go into automatic mode;
2. Routine – this allows the behavior to unfold;
3. Reward – keeps the loop going.
“Neuroscientists have traced our habit-making behaviors to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia, which also plays a key role in the development of emotions, memories and pattern recognition,” Duhigg continues. He offers a cool flow chart to help you change a habit:
Scott H. Young offers 18 Tricks to Make New Habits Stick – starting with the first three will get you on your way and are doable:
1. Commit to 30 Days
2. Make it daily
3. Start simple
Get on the yellow brick road of focus, attention and habits and say “oh my” in 30 days to progress that comes from daily intention and action. Start 3 Things, every single day.
“Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” - William James