03/24/2022
Failure to reach one’s goals is typically not the result of lack of effort or lack of desire.
More often, failure is the result of burnout.
This burnout occurs because when we first start out on an endeavor we assume that we must make huge sweeping changes to our habits and lifestyle.
We assume that big changes require big actions all at once.
We try to “boil the ocean”.
Just as attempting to boil the ocean would prove to be impossible, attempting to change everything about your habits and lifestyle all at once will prove too much for most people to handle.
The weight loss journey is the perfect way to explain this concept.
Many think they need to start by waking up at 5am everyday to workout for 2 hours. They need to reduce the calories they consume drastically. They need to eliminate carbohydrates from their lives. They need to give up going out to eat. They need to start wearing nothing but “gym clothes”. They need to post every workout on social media.
Before long they’re burned out and back to their old habits with very little if anything to show for their efforts.
The reality is, small improvements over time (Kaizen) results in large sustainable changes for the better.
It’s like a snowball rolling down hill.
To return to the weight loss analogy, instead of trying to do everything all at once start small. Switch from drinking sodas to drinking water and go for a 30 minute walk with your family and/or pet after dinner.
The weight loss won’t be drastic at first but it will accumulate over time. And before you know it those two easy changes become habits. At this point maybe you can add another simple change or two so you can keep improving.
If you stick to this methodical approach to change, you’ll be a different person in no time and you’ll feel like progress you’ve made has come effortlessly.
The concept of Kaizen can apply to many areas of your life: weight loss, building a business, relationships, personal finance, and even in the martial arts.
What do you think?
