The Secret to Changing a Habit
Habits are a lot harder to change than we might think.
“First we make our habits, then our habits make us.” — Charles C. Noble
Consistency is an underrated feature. But it’s a superpower.
In fact, it’s the secret sauce that is responsible for the success of every New Year resolution.
The problem is, many people choose to commit to unrealistic or unsustainable goals in their resolutions, rather than focusing on the underlying behaviors that scuttle them.
The Sirens’ Song
Because he knew himself (and his predilection for procrastination, travel, and women), Odysseus (or Ulysses) had to take drastic precautions when sailing past the island of the Sirens.
He had been warned that the Sirens lure sailors their deaths by singing such beautiful songs that the sailors steer their ships toward shore, where they are dashed on the rocks.
Remember, Odysseus’ goal in his 10-year journey was to return home to Ithaca. But he knew that for the sake of this particular threat, it wasn’t enough to focus on the goal.
He needed to focus on the outcome: how could he keep his crew safe as they sailed by the Sirens’…
