I always like to think about how the things we do frequently put us on a trajectory towards becoming a certain person or achieving a certain outcome.
It’s kind of like how an airplane can alter its flight path by 1 or 2 degrees and end up at a completely different destination.
In fact, James Clear says:
“It doesn’t matter how successful or unsuccessful you are right now. What matters is whether your habits are putting you on the path toward success. You should be far more concerned with your current trajectory than with your current results.”
I guess, depending on your current actions, this is either incredibly scary or brilliantly empowering.
Some examples are:
- Someone who goes to school every day is on the path toward becoming educated.
- Someone who skips school every day is on the path toward becoming uneducated.
- Someone who exercises regularly is on a path toward being fitter and leaner.
- Someone who doesn’t exercise regularly is on the path toward being unfit and overweight.
- Someone who saves money every month is on the path toward becoming wealthier.
- Someone who spends too much money every month is on the path toward becoming in debt.
- Someone who eats healthy food every day is on the path toward becoming healthier.
- Someone who eats junk food every day is on the path toward becoming unhealthier.
- Someone who praises their partner every day is on the path toward more love.
- Someone who criticises their partner every day is on the path toward a more conflict.
- Someone who wakes up every morning and focuses on their goals is on the path toward becoming more successful.
- Someone who wakes up every morning and just goes with the flow is on the path toward becoming lost.
These are more extreme situations and you might find that this happens in more subtle ways in real life:
- Going to gym twice a week will get you certain results, while going to gym three times a week will get you different results.
- Eating pizza once every second week will get you certain results, while eating pizza twice a week will get you different results.
- Arguing with your partner but making up for it before you go to sleep will get you certain results, while arguing with your partner and going to sleep angry will get you different results.
- Getting 6 hours of sleep will get you certain results, while getting 7 hours of sleep will get you different results.
We are what we repeatedly do and these actions compound over time.
More often than not, it’s the teeny tiny actions that we repeat over and over again that determine our results far more than the big giant actions that we take once in a while.
Now might be a good time to take stock of your own habits, both good and bad.
These could be daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly habits – whatever you do consistently and are part of your “norm”.
What good habits do you have that are contributing to a better, brighter, and more positive destination?
What bad habits do you have that are contributing to a worse, darker, and more negative destination?
Just like an airplane altering its course, what small changes could you make to your daily life that will add up and compound over time?
