I took this photo after a run. As I admired the view, I realized that I was facing the direction I had just run. That got me realizing that for many years, I have run on this same path, in the same direction. Day after day, I entered the park, and chose the exact same route – turn to my right, run around the loop, stop. The sameness was really grinding on me.
Then I started realizing, it can become sub-conscious to always choose the same route, and not just in running, but in everything you do.
Think about it, how much of this are you doing right now:
- Taking the same form of transportation to work every day
- Going to the same exercises classes every week (and feeling bored because you always do the same routine)
- Walking or driving home on the same streets every day
- Seeing the same people over and over
- Trying the same marketing strategies you always do
Routine, though comfortable, can also lead to boredom and, in business, to lack of results. It occurred to me that if I had one area where I was doing the same thing and not changing my results, then that meant I had to look at where else in my business, and my life, I was relying on the same habits.
What I learned is that it wasn’t just the run – I wanted some changes in other areas of my life, and this epiphany helped me tap into those spaces and think about how I could bring about the change I wanted in each of them. So, if you find yourself craving change, and unclear how to make it happen, here are some ideas:
- Think about WHERE you want changes – life, weight, relationships, business?
- Determine WHAT you want – e.g. to lose weight, to be happier, to have/get out of a relationship, to generate more income, etc
- In each area where you want change, now think about what you are doing, habitually, to reach those goals that is no longer working
- Figure out one new thing you can bring in to each area, and see what happens!
When I realized my running path was the same, I started running the other direction! I know it seems crazy, but I felt like I had found an entirely new place to run – everything looked different from the other way! The run seemed longer, I suddenly noticed scenery I had ignored, and it made the run more fun.
When you want to create change, anywhere, you have to create that change by making a change.
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