Which Comes First? The Act or the Mindset?

I have horrible self discipline. I could point to any area of my life and prove it to you. This blog is an easy example (so much for writing every week, right). Whether it’s working out, writing, cooking, reading, etc. I never implement change. Nothing sticks. I live in a place of constant need for self discipline.

When I get on YouTube, I always see videos about someone doing something for 30 days. And I sit in awe of these peoples' self-discipline and self-motivation. Yet I never do any sort of challenges.

Adam actually pokes fun at me because I will plan for this sort of thing, but when it’s time to actually do it, I don't. The plan and encouraging notes I’ve left myself sit forgotten until I replace them with another idea.

What would my life look like if I clung onto these changes I want to make? How much healthier would I be? How much happier would I be? What version of me would I be?

Adam has been on a kick lately of doing a lot of things that he wants to start doing. His list including waking earlier, reading, working out, and other simple yet powerful changes. I have a similar list. Yet I doubt if I’d ever go through with many of them.

Anytime I do plan to do something, I’ll find a new way to stay motivated. Sometimes it’s a sign of encouragement on my wall; sometimes it’s a habit tracking app.

I’ve yet to accomplish any of the things I would like.

Part of the reasoning, is that I get in my own head. I don’t see the possible failure and push through to prove to myself it’s false. I see the possibility and become apathetic to the push against it. I’ve grown a little too comfortable in my dissatisfaction with the direction that I’m going.

It’s a little odd saying it that way. I’ve never considered it before my fingers were clicking away revealing this truth (maybe that’s why I need to write more).

My question is how do you be uncomfortable in that? I don’t get it. But maybe that’s the point. You can only get uncomfortable if you force yourself to do something.

It’s the act that makes you realize how much better you feel changing instead of the realization making you act in a different way. If I changed my actions, my mindset would change.

My bed is actually an example of just that. When we first had #1, I was at home a lot more than I was at any point in our marriage until then. And an unmade bed never crossed my mind. Yet after being at home and needing to feel more of use, I started making it everyday. Now, an unmade bed in the morning drives me crazy. It has become a part of my morning routine. My action has changed my view of the bed.

Now, I know what you are thinking: "this is not the case for every detail." And I agree; sometimes, mindsets need to change before habits. But not every time.

I don’t know what I’ll be acting on first at this point. But I will be doing something different. And hopefully that lets me realize how uncomfortable this comfort zone actually is.