Mid Year Check In
My love for podcasts was somewhat forced on me. I first started listening to them more than a decade ago. I was still in law school and I wanted to work for this judge I admired. I harassed her for months, finally got an interview and secured the job. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have a car at the time, so the commute from my apartment to her courthouse was 2 hours - each way - via 2 buses, a metro and a 10 minute walk.
Needless to say, I had a lot of time and the DC Metro was not ideal for homework or studying, so I picked up a podcast habit.
Since I live in Southern California, I continue to have insane commutes, so my podcasts are one of the few things keeping me sane...and not running other drivers off the road.
Last month, I listened to an episode of Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris, entitled "The Science Of Motivation: How To Make Habits That Actually Stick." During the discussion, one of the guests posed a question she asks her clients when they need an extra push.
The host Dan asked why is it so hard for humans to stay motivated, even when we know the results are important or necessary - think working out or stopping a smoking habit. Why do you think that is? It seems that if we know something is good for us, our brain should make that thing a priority. But we all know, that's not reality.
For me personally, especially because I wear so many hats, it can be hard to stay motivated and on track with everything I want to accomplish. Sometimes, I'm too busy and don't have time. Another reason is that when I get discouraged, it can be hard to motivate myself. Another huge reason is that life is unpredictable and unexpected issues pop up that distract me from my goals.
On the episode, guest T. Morgan Dixon, the founder of Girl Trek, said that when she has a client who's struggling with motivation, she asks them think about two questions: "What are you walking away from? What are you walking toward?"
She noted that reframing habits, to implicate the bigger impact they'll have and how they'll bring you closer to the life you want to life, can be a great reminder when motivation is down.
Last night, I journaled on these questions for 20 minutes. I wrote down some of what I came up with and I'm going to refer back to them throughout the rest of 2024 to see if they help me when I need motivation.
What do you think about Ms. Dixon's questions. How has the year gone for you so far? Have you met any goals you set for the year already? Email me at hello@saintenel.com and let me know.
What do you think about Ms. Dixon's questions. How has the year gone for you so far? Have you met any goals you set for the year already? Email me at hello@saintenel.com and let me know.