The Power of Habits
Good or bad, we as people have a natural affinity to forming habits. They’re commonly thought of in a bad light — nail biting, smoking, binge eating; but the same brain physiology that causes these bad habits to stick can be applied to positive habits.
Think of overgrown paths in a forest. Every time we choose to pull up from a sprint just short of the finish line, sleep in, skip a rep, stay silent while a teammate willingly performs below the standard, or cut a corner of any kind, we walk down the path of weakness and selfishness. The more frequently this path is taken, the clearer it becomes and the easier it is to travel.
Every time we need to make a decision we find ourselves in the forest, and the clearest path available is the one we have taken the most.
The good news is that the path we choose is entirely up to us. Finding ways to apply discipline and a degree of excellence into everything we do every day is how we clear a path of toughness and selflessness.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act but a habit”
-Aristotle
Like any habit, the more often we choose to show up on time, leave no doubt, finish through the line or speak up when something needs to be addressed, we further clear the path of toughness and selflessness. With enough consistency, we can shift our mental framework to habitually choose excellence in everything.
