#492 This habit is here to stay

I’m not writing because I can’t write?
I’m not playing the guitar because I’m bad at music?
I’m not learning a language because I’m bad at learning languages?

That’s the world on its head.

The truth is: you can’t write because you’re not writing.
You can’t play the guitar because you’re not playing the guitar.
You can’t speak the language because you’re not learning the language.

If you would write every day, cognitive dissonance starts doing its work. Your actions will overrule your thoughts and beliefs.

And every day you write, you’re becoming a writer.

Every day you play the guitar, you’re becoming a guitar player.

Every day you learn a language, you’re becoming a language learner.

The only reason you can’t do it because you’re not doing it.

Don’t get it backwards.

Trying to become good fast makes you impatient. And impatience may well stop you from ever becoming good in the first place.

Because the only way to become good is by understanding that in today’s practice session, you likely won’t be perfect anyway.

That you likely won’t write your most insightful words.

That you likely won’t run an all-time best.

That you’ll likely spend a large part of your yoga session stumbling and losing balance.

When you go into your practice session with that mindset…

Suddenly it makes sense to focus hard on getting that one sentence right.

Now it makes sense to focus on rhythmic breathing while running instead of pushing for a better time.

Now it makes sense to focus on a tiny part of your body during an entire yoga session to train your awareness instead of trying to chase poses because “they look professional.”

Even if there is not much time to “become good,” it still makes sense to assume there is time.

Because that gives you the freedom to focus on the small adjustments that prepare you for when the time comes, and you truly need to perform.

Since I’m always practicing anyway, I don’t have to be good at this today.