It’s just a moment in time when a decision is made that changes everything. Maybe it’s something minor or maybe it’s major. Either way, a decision is made and that’s that. It’s simple, and now the fun begins. Or does it?
Have you ever noticed that we start off down the path to a new result, we get lost along the way. It’s easy to do and difficult to get back on track, if the details take over.
In the sixth grade, my teacher would say daily, “It’s the little things that matter” and, for the most part I agree; the little things do matter up to a certain point. When we lose sight of the results we are aiming for, the process becomes all consuming and off we go to the point of no return.
We stay connected to what’s familiar, grounded in the comfort and security of “we’ve always done it this way”. We know what we know and that’s what we do. Our attention turns towards the process of getting things done, then just like a boat drifting along at sea, before too long land is no longer in sight when we finally look up and wonder; where did it go?
A decision to make a life change is exciting, maybe it’s something big, maybe it’s little. Change is good and progress in the right direction is progress. 1% better each day adds up over time, just like compounding interest. But fighting the small improvement and failing to see how it fits into the bigger picture, gains little if any momentum.
So, let’s say you start working out and eating right. After six months you are not where you would like to be physically. You still want to get in shape, a little definition, not too ripped, but you want to look good at the beach (desired result). You’ve tried everything on your own, watched YouTube videos for workout routines, read all the blogs to know exactly what to eat, but your progress is not, well, progressing. You hire a trainer, smart choice!
The trainer suggests you workout in a different way, eat differently, drink more water, etc. You have a new process to follow with your desired result in the end. But nothing the trainer suggests makes sense. It’s different and not what you are used to doing. You go back to the trainer in frustration and proceed to tell them how what they want you to do is not working. In your mind, you may think “seriously, I KNOW how to work out, I’m eating just fine” and you fight the new process all the way. Before you know it, the details of the process have taken over and the end result is not the driving factor.
When the result is the main focus and constantly in sight, we remain open to new possibilities. The details of how we get from the decision to the result are important. Yes we should question the process and touch base to see if we are heading in the right direction, are we 1% better today than yesterday? Maybe a new process is needed, maybe it’s not. But until we test the waters, experiment with the options, we will never know.
When your decision is made, consider some questions along the way to help keep you focused on the results.
- What is the result I expect to see when everything is accomplished?
- Is it possible a new process could be better?
- Will my current process get me a new result?
- What led me to desire a new result?
