I've Found a Fabulous Way of Sticking to Goals.

[thinktom]

I recently quit sugar.

In the second week of December, I decided to say 'goodbye' to one of my favourite lifelong vices. I miss chocolate dearly, having grown up with British parents and Cadbury's Flakes and Buttons. HOWEVER, I no longer crave them as I once did. It's over. I'm done with it. Especially in my coffee. When I think of all those teaspoons of simple carbs added up, dear God. My poor Pancreas. And no, I don't give myself a 'treat' day. No need for the doors of sugar crashes and cravings to be opened again. I'm really feeling fabulous.

How did I do it? (And yes I can talk like this because I'm truly done with it, regardless of the time).

Well, I have started many, many things in my life time and succeeded at far less than I've started. I have managed, however, to stick to the right ones in the last 10-11 years.

My best 'goal' however, has always remained that I have been dedicated to my wife, and our marriage, for the past 9 yrs. I have been with one woman for the last 11 years. I have never doubted this nor veered from my commitment. I'm not blowing any horns for it and I'm certainly not expecting some song and dance for doing so. I made that commitment, and I'm going to the grave with it. It should just 'be' shouldn't it? And it has.

So, why not take that 'matter of fact' commitment that has been so successful and apply it elsewhere?

Exactly! I have simply decided that any commitments I make from now on (not 'whim and fancy' ones) but any real commitment be done so with that simple 'this is the way it's gonna' be' dedication.

I will not fail with this methodology. I know it. It's part of my life. Because I've done it before...and I'll do it again. I had just forgotten that I can.

What have you been successful at during your life? Planning? Typing? Computer work? Surely there is SOMETHING that you've been able to consistantly do for years at a time? Even the goofy stuff? Messy backyard? Couch surfing? Sports stats? Social Media?

Simply take that dedication, knowing that you are obviously COMPLETELY capable of sticking to certain commitments, and apply them elsewhere. And once the decision is made, you will find out, like I did, that it is so damn simple.

And every time you doubt yourself, or get a craving for mediocrity, just remind yourself of your abilities to completely dedicate yourself. It's easy.

Because you can. You've done it before. You'll do it again.

Have a great week, folks.

Tom

[mleighp1]

Great post. I love the idea of either commit 100% or don't commit at all. Half-ass commitment results in half-ass results.

[thinktom]

Originally Posted by mleighp1

Great post. I love the idea of either commit 100% or don't commit at all. Half-ass commitment results in half-ass results.

And it sounds like yours are going tremendously well. Congratulations!

T.

[Cat Lover]

Great post Tom!

I gave up coffee and sugary drinks for 9 years! It was really hard to wake up in the mornings, at first. A glass of water, just doesn't have that same "oomph" that a cup of coffee does, you know? What I did discover, and just in time thankfully - was that drinking so much water instead of coffee was SO good for me. It helped me stay hydrated, which lifted the "fog" and I was able to think more clearly. It helped my skin tremendously! When you are late 30's - early 40's, that is a true blessing! And it helped me get more regular.

It is so easy to get used to drinking those kinds of drinks. Too easy! We like the taste, we like having it as part of our routine.... The "I want" soon becomes an "I need" way of thinking, especially with food and drinks I find.

Good for you Tom! It is amazing how much better we can feel, if we control our diet, instead of letting it control us. I think your results will speak volumes and you seem very determined to stay on this path. Way to go, Tom!

[MCaldwell]

Confidence is so important with so many undertakings. You've taken your success in one arena of your life and are using that success to give you the confidence to succeed in an entirely different arena.

This concept is so simple, yet it's brilliant. If you could do "that", then you can certainly do something as simple as "this".

I've been writing about Attitude on this forum a lot lately, and this is the perfect example of the right Attitude to take when taking on a new goal. Success is imminent and failure is not an option. I love it!

So many people enter into something like this with the "I'm going to try to..." Attitude. Right there, you have already given yourself an out.

How did that Karate Kid quote go? "There is no try, there is only do".

I would congratulate you on your achievement, but you would be the first to say that there is nothing to congratulate. It simply is what it is!

[Corinne Friesen]

Great stuff, Tom. It's back to the wisdom of the aliens:
Do or do not, there is no 'try'.

[GR8FL2BME]

Originally Posted by mleighp1

Great post. I love the idea of either commit 100% or don't commit at all. Half-ass commitment results in half-ass results.

I need to learn this and make it part of my being. Maybe I will when I decide that the payoff for half-assing things isn't worth it any more.

[Scooter]

I made that commitment, and I'm going to the grave with it.

That is how I quit drinking and that is exactly how I stopped smoking.
Sure there were other factors but it wasn't until I was completely committed to any goal that I ever made it happen.

100% commitment, to the grave
You Da Man!

[Success_for_Life]

Thanks for the info! love to try it myself. glad i found this site..