I really admire runners. It blows my mind when someone can run a mile faster than 8 minutes. I gawk when I see people be able to bust out mile after mile and hit double digits. I sometimes find myself thinking, wow, how lucky they are to be such a naturally talented runner!
…and then I stop myself.
Lucky.
I’m sure if I sat down to lunch with a marathoner and described them as lucky, they might laugh at best or at worst, be offended. I’m sure if I took a closer look that I’d see their dedication to running in the rain, after dark, in the cold and on Saturday mornings. Maybe I’d be enlightened after learning about the injuries they’ve nursed and overcome, the coach they’ve met with or the commitment to proper fueling they’ve had to focus on. Maybe after seeing how much work they’ve put into that ‘natural’ talent, I wouldn’t be so quick to label them as lucky.
Do you ever find that to be true? It’s so easy to look at someone’s result and forget to consider the work that went into it. By labeling them lucky, I not only undermine their efforts, but I set myself up to never be able to accomplish the same things. After all, if they are a ‘natural’ runner and I am not, then I’ll never even have a shot at running a half marathon, right?
But that’s not true. I know if I took the time, focus and energy, that I could be a runner too. What really separates the runner and me is their routine, their habits. Running is grooved deeply into their day to day.
I’m using running as a big ‘ol analogy for any goal of course. To be a runner. To weigh 20 pounds less. To have X amount in savings. To get promoted. To start that business. To go on that vacation. To live in that neighborhood. Sometimes we get so focused on the goal, the outcome, the result of what we want that we bypass focusing on the steps to get us there and simply throw the label ‘lucky’ on those that have accomplished it. There is so much strength in consistency and we can use that to help accomplish our goals, whether physical, emotional or financial.
As a mom, my day can be rather monotonous. Actually, it can be incredibly monotonous. It really helps me when I can look at our daily routine on a deeper level with a stronger purpose. Meal plan, food prep, nature walk, work out, kiss boo boos, sing songs, discipline, read books, bath and the same bedtime routine… but you know what? Practice makes permanence. If we, as a family, are practicing the same things everyday (patience, kindness, healthy eating, exercising, mental challenge, creative expression) then these are the things that will be deep-seated in our kids are they grow.
This is a philosophy that David and I discuss on the regular, especially when we feel a little beat down by our routines. Sometimes the day to day steps of showing up, putting in the effort, doing our best can feel a bit like a turtle stampeding through mud. It’s tempting to throw our hands up and say screw it! But we encourage each other to stay the course, remembering that each small step is working towards yielding a greater result.
These are the small thoughts that I repeat in my head to help keep me motivated and inspired day to day. David and I have big dreams and goals set up for 5, 10, 15, 30 years down the road. I know that we are laying the foundation for those goals now through our everyday choices. Though the motions may feel monotonous today, having the discipline to stick with them and turn them into habits will certainly serve us well in the future… at least that is what I keep telling myself!
How have your daily habits helped or hindered your success of your goals?
[Tweet “Is our success for any goal based on our habits? “]
I know this is a world away from mango salsa, so thanks for bearing with me as I sometimes gets all introspective 😉 If this is a topic that interests you, and you’d like to hear someone speak more eloquently about it than my jibber jabber, I highly suggest checking out the book The Power of Habit or the Elevation series The Power of Same. Not sponsored, just some sources that have given me some great food for thought lately.
naturalred says
I agree with everything you said completely.
I would like to add, one thing. Here in our area everyone, and I mean everyone, seems to be training for a big run that is coming up soon. Some that have never ever ran a mile. I know you all have to start somewhere and pain is expected when starting a new activity. BUT I also feel like many people take up running because it is the “IN” thing to do at the moment. In my eyes, this is totally the wrong reason to do anything much less run any marathon/race.
We all need to do something because WE love it, not because everyone else loves it and we feel to be included in the “IN” crowd we need to learn to love it too. Look at yourself and what makes YOU happy. Dont look around and learn to be with happy doing what everyone else is doing.
Brynn says
habits create trends I always say. Doing something or a behavior repeatedly is like exercising that muscle. Whether that is for running, manners or anything really.
Sara J. says
This is so wise. I love that you touch on so many fun and thought provoking topics. Forwarding this to Phil.
Rebecca says
Last year, one of the goals for myself was to make running a habit – I do love running and prefer it over other exercise but was struggling to make it something that I just did on autopilot. I wanted to be like those people who uses half of their suitcase to take workout clothes on vacation because “what better time to get some good runs in?”
Daily habit absolutely helped me achieve this goal. I signed up for my first ever distance race, downloaded a “couch to 10k” program and put the runs in my calendar so it became another “to do” on my list. Having a goal with a deadline that I publicly committed to really helped me make it a habit and I haven’t looked back.
For what it’s worth, I look at your daily routines (meal prep, healthy food, finding time for joy as well as keeping everything going) and think “how does she do all of that? I can barely get to the grocery store!” I currently work full time in a demanding job but am expecting our first baby in September and hope to use my maternity leave (a whole 12 months, thanks UK government!) to establish some healthy habits for our new family. Your blog inspires me every day to do more!
Beks says
That is so true. I’m constantly finding myself comparing my beginning with someone else’s middle or end.
A couple weeks ago, I was at the opera with my aunt, and I thought about how fortunate the Soprano was for being able to sound so effortless in her singing. It’s been awhile since I studied opera performance myself, and in that moment, I also suddenly remembered what it takes to make yourself sound like it’s easy. It’s like dancers. The best ones show you the dance, and not the effort behind it. The best performers make it look like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
Heather@hungryforbalance says
Awesome post! And I thought it was eloquently written 😉
You are so right about the monotony of motherhood at times. Sometimes I have to remind myself that we have to have Mondays in order to appreciate Fridays, and the daily decisions we make help to get us to those things we want, like vacations or weightloss.
tiff @ love, sweat, & beers says
Practice makes perfect… or at least better than yesterday. 🙂 I love that Eleanor Roosevelt quote; thanks for sharing it!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
Great post! Really well written. I think success, big or small, is all about forming good habits. And honestly, the things I’ve been able to achieve in life (and the things I’m most proud of) only came because of some good old fashioned consistent hard work. And I’ve found that to be true when looking at other people I admire as well. Good for you and David for instilling this into your girls at such a young age!
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss says
I LOVE this, and it cannot be more true. I like to say that nothing really comes easily to me. I work so hard to be good at things I want to be good at, and very frequently people will say “I’m just not a –insert the blank here–. You will be if you put a great deal of effort into it! Sure, some people are more built for certain things, but still… you speak the truth. 🙂
And I think you’re great.
marie says
Thank you for this post. I needed it today. Working full time, commuting, small child, staying fit & healthy, keeping family obligations, balancing a good, solid marriage = sometime makes me feel overwhelmed. But when I look at it with this perspective, I see long term happiness.
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
I know exactly what you mean! There was this skinny girl in my grad school program that I used to watch with envy as she snacked all day, because she just seemed like one of those “naturally” thin women who never had to once think about what she ate….until one day I overheard her saying that she had been a little overweight in college and had to work hard to lose the weight and change her eating habits. That sure showed me about making assumptions! I think that the only things that maybe some people have that others lack is more willpower- other than that it’s all about practice and dedication, like you said.
Sarah @ Sweet Miles says
This could not ring more true!! One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don’t try something or think they cant do something simply because they think it’s luck or genetics or some other excuse! I’m a firm believer that anyone can do anything they put their mind to!
Sam @ Pursuit of Healthy Happiness says
I catch myself doing the same thing from time to time to time-Seeing people’s accomplishments but not truly thinking about the work and dedication that it takes to get there. It’s something I’ve been really working on, to understand a person’s path. I’ve found that doing so helps make my big life goals (which can be insanely daunting sometimes!) easier and more realistic. I actually just got back into the habit of writing my weekly goals down to help me achieve them.
How do you keep track of your goals and habits?
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama says
As a mama of two, I agree it is really easy to get stuck in a rut. I am good about producing a list of daily goals (to motivate me through the day) but I could really improve my long-term goal planning. I have a method, but I don’t always stick to it. I’m a visual person, so maybe I need to put my long term goals up in my office where I will see them regularly.
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Great post! And very true!
Brittany says
Love this post! I catch myself doing the “lucky” thing all the time.
julia says
Thank you for this post! 🙂 🙂
Colette says
This post couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. I love this! I have really been feeling the weight of our routine lately – work, commute, cook, clean, bedtime routine with our baby girl, shower, sleep, and do it all again! Sometimes it feels overwhelming and with little time left over for myself or to spend quality time with my husband. Which is why I have really been considering my own routine and habits. I think taking steps towards larger goals (wanting to feel more centered and do something for myself) definitely takes some work in forming a new habit (get up 30 minutes earlier to journal/meditate/read each morning). Thanks for the reminder – habit forming takes some work but the end result is worth it!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves says
Wow, yes. This is such an insightful post to which everyone, young and not as young, can relate. Sometimes I’m tempted to think that my body isn’t “built” for running, so that discourages me from getting out there and running anyway. I feel like a half marathon is some out-of-reach thing for someone like me who doesn’t enjoy running very much. But then I remember how consistent I’ve been with other forms of exercise to get where I am today, and then I am reminded that my hard work has yielded results. I hope to extend that mindset to every aspect of my life, just as you are doing!
Thank you, Brittany. You’re awesome!
Kat @ Where the Sidewalk Ends says
I can’t tell you how much this post inspired me. A month after having my son (actually, a month tomorrow :-)) I’m feeling so down about the fact that, besides keeping him alive (which I know is a huge feat, but still) I am not contributing or creating in the way I want to be doing. Your post inspired me to make a change. Yesterday, I made a calendar with three daily chores on it – take care of our chickens, water our seedlings, and write a blog post 3 days a week. My (incredibly patient) husband agreed that if I do all those things for two weeks, I get a foot massage. Then, I’ll keep adding things until it feels appropriate. Is this a system designed for a 4 year old? Yep. Do I need some incentive-based performance initiatives to actually build habits? You bet. Thanks for the inspiration!
Danica @ It's Progression says
This is such a great reminder because, yes, it’s so easy to look at someone who is successful in an area and think it just fell into their lap when really they worked very hard to get there!
Lisa O says
This was such a great blog! I was so committed to exercising, then got a monstrous cold (so bad, I deemed it man flu due to all the moaning I did) for two weeks and now I’m scared to return to running. Once you’re in habitual mode, it seems so easy! Having a plan each day of my exercise, I don’t even think whether I will or won’t do it… it’s as much a part of my day as a meal or brushing my teeth! So I better start consulting my diary and getting my butt out the door, thanks for this simple reminder!
A daily habit with my gorgeous 3-year-old has been to drill into her “please” and “thank you” which I had to add on to the end of every sentence, which was so wearing as I thought it would never be habitual for her. Well, she incorporates please into every sentence that requires it and says yes or no, thank you virtually every single time now. My persistence has paid off (victory dance!). Like you, sometimes I’ve thought it would never happen and why bother, but I’m so proud of her good manners now. It was totally worth it!
Good luck with the bathroom reno, sounds like it will be a gorgeous sanctuary when it’s finished.
Lisa's says
I love this blog but I can’t relate to it anymore. Your life is so perfect. Big home, wonderful family, friends ect.
I feel so inadequate reading it because my life is so far from that.
Brittany Dixon says
Hi Lisa, I’m not sure how to respond to this but wanted to let you know I did read it. I don’t know how to apologize for writing about my life that I enjoy. Though I have my own challenges, like anyone else, I do overall enjoy my life very much and hope that you can make some positive steps to love yours too. Please feel free to email me if there is anything you ever want to chat about. I hope you have a great weekend!