“The starting point of all achievement is desire.”–Napoleon Hill
“Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.”–Jim Rohn
I read ‘Think and Grow Rich’ many years ago. While the desire for success is the starting point, one cannot simply think it will be so and it will happen. Success in any area of life takes purposeful action. It takes effort.
The efforts we take toward an (extra)ordinary, well-centered life are daily growth habits that help us refine ourselves. The greatest change comes from the accumulation of effort over time. One of the best ways I have found to keep myself on a track toward well-centered fitness is daily journaling.
Journaling is a common theme among the most highly motivated people. The approaches will vary slightly, but the common patterns include: 1) journal first thing in the morning (and often at night, as well), 2) set daily goals, and 3) meditate on these and your values.
In my efforts to center myself according to the dimensions of wellness, my focus is on the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social goals, as well as other personal development goals. I have found the greatest success in doing the following:
I try to journal first thing in the morning. It doesn’t have to take much time, but starting the day with positive thoughts and purpose makes the world of difference. There is a noticeable difference in my presence when I am on track with my journaling.
I like to begin with reading a chapter of the Psalms (there are 31 chapters, so it works well with the calendar). These are full of diverse wisdom and one verse nearly always catches my eye for the day. I write this down in the journal and take a moment to ponder how this wisdom applies in my day. This may not suit everyone’s beliefs, but it is the principle that matters most—read something positive and write down just one positive thought. There are numerous daily devotionals and sources of wisdom that are short morning reads. Often (especially when the monthly cycles of reading the same verses gets a bit repetitive), I will simple pull up inspirational quotes on the Internet. One of my favorite sites for this is www.brainyquote.com. One can search for quotes by topic (e.g., success, character, etc.) or author. Two of my personal favorite authors for daily wisdom are Orison Swett Marden (founder of Success magazine) and James Allen (As A Man Thinketh). There so many more from whom to choose. The point is: focus in on at least one positive thought to start your day.
I then like to write one goal for each of the dimensions of well-centered fitness—spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social. These will be guided by the broader goals for your life and each of the dimensions. You need to have a clear definition for yourself for each dimension (and, be aware, these will evolve over time as you become more “well-centered) and should use these to set the tone for the day. The goals need to be specific, and you must set aside the time in the day to achieve them.
These morning efforts are important, but I have found that taking the time at the end of the day is equally important. For me, this is also the most difficult to accomplish. The day gets so busy and, if I don’t set aside the time, it is often time for bed, leaving “no time” to journal. This, of course, is just poor planning on my part and the result of not appropriately prioritizing my time.
At the end of the day, I like to write down some thoughts on the day. I reflect on how well I did toward accomplishing my goals. I like to consider what happened (both positive and negative) throughout the day and how I performed in my various roles. The time spent does not have to be long. Even just a few minutes can have a most positive effect.
I will also write down a positive quote from something I have read or a thought that I have found especially motivating. Doing this before sleep has a most positive effect on the quality of sleep I get. I am less likely to be troubled through the night and awakened by anxious thoughts. Rather, my dreams and sleep thoughts are guided by the positive direction I am taking in my life.
I intend to share more thought on the dimensions of well-centered fitness in the days to come. In the meantime, I myself will be making efforts to get back on track with my own journaling.
Carpe momento!