Note: This article is by Zech Newman, who shares his experience in pursuing dreams.
I woke up before sunrise, walked towards the couch, then lit a small lamp, made my coffee, and picked up my phone after unconsciously browsing Facebook and Twitter. It seemed that this browsing process had taken five minutes.
My son woke up and came to join me on the couch. How has the morning already flown by? How did an hour and a half pass?
While I was reflecting on my life, I recalled a trip I took a while ago on an old side road—a neglected road where cars' wheels had left deep ruts.
As a result of years of driving without deviating from the path, the vehicle's path has become obvious, allowing you to take your hands off the wheel and let it follow its own course. The outcomes we get from our unconsciously formed daily habits are the same as that road.
Our actions form patterns that resemble those grooves along the way
Over time, our actions form patterns that resemble those grooves along the way, and unconsciously, we do everything according to these patterns, which in turn will either bring us closer to our dreams or drive us away from them. Most of our habits diverge from our plans because of the so-called "easier way." What do you do when you realize you are not in the place you want to be but are still browsing Facebook while half asleep?
I used to be rash and lazy, but these four steps have made me someone who works tirelessly to fulfill their goals:
1. Discover your true desires
I dropped out of college three times, and I must have broken a record. I was influenced a lot by the expectations and desires of others. I enrolled in college to understand later that my destination does not require a degree. If you are honest with yourself, you will find that you do many things just because someone you respect told you to do them.
The first step in overcoming being a rash, lazy person is to consider what you want, ignore what you think you have to do or what others impose on you, and focus on what you care about personally.
2. Determine if your actions get you where you want to be
After deciding what you want in life, you have to know what will get you there and what will not. Facebook is not a problem for me; in fact, it has allowed me to communicate with people. I love this communication, but we must only direct it in a context that is consistent with our goals and dreams.
You have exactly the same hours in your day as any of the great people you admire, and the question is: Are your actions leading you toward the goals you want to achieve? If the answer is no, stop them.
3. Determine your previous actions that you should replace
I have previously advised you to stop your actions, but it is easier to replace habits. For example, I reduce my coffee intake because I want to be in the best possible condition, and instead of refraining from drinking coffee, I replace this habit with drinking more water.
What is the bad habit that prevents you from achieving your goals that you can replace with good practice? It helps you eliminate the old habit, which is considered a win, and it helps to give you new momentum that turns into a habit. Then your win is doubled. Establishing a new habit in place of an old one is an absolute win.
4. Perseverance
If you feel like a failure in life, you are not; in fact, you often do many things right. What should you keep doing? You don't often need radical changes to get out of the grooves we've talked about.
As for me, I woke up early, and I just needed to invest this time differently, so I need to maintain my waking time. And you—what should you continue to do that would bring you closer to achieving your goals?
In conclusion
We must foster our habits to bring us closer to our dreams, and instead of being lazy with distorted minds, we will be able to manage our future with our own hands. After all, you were made to dream, so just make sure that your family shares the journey with you.
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