Following up

Monday, November 14, 2011
Week 16
 
“Success comes from taking the initiative and following up... persisting...What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life” Tony Robbins

It’s week 16, about four months since I started my experiment, and it seems like I should take some initiative to follow up.  I’ll do an overview and semi assessment of how it’s going; What’s working well, what’s not working so well and what I have learned to date about determining if small steps can bring big results.
 
Let’s begin with the positive:
What’s working well?
 
#1. I realize the most important thing this blog does for me is keep me accountable.  “Don’t write it down and share it with others if you’re not going to do it.  Don’t say you’re going to do it, if you don’t plan to actually do it.”  There’s just something about thinking others is readying, watching and wondering that helps to keep me focused.
 
#2. The second thing that’s working well is that I’m actually doing it!  I have stuck with my small steps to date.  I think giving myself some realistic failure space (like allowing for one day of chips or sodas, or not having to do weights every day) has been a great thing for me….and allowed me to still feel positive, when I would normally be kicking myself for falling off the path.
 
#3.  I realize that small steps are easier than big ones.  Seems like a ‘no brainer’ right?  But seriously, I am finding it quite refreshing to have goals that are easily attainable for me yet are a positive addition and improvement to my life.
 
#4. Quantifiable improvements: I am eating better, getting more exercise; I am losing some weight, losing some inches, my sister says my fingernails are prettier, I’m walking more steps each day, and I'm driving more miles to the gallon. 
 
#5. Non-quantifiable improvements.  I just plain feel better.  I have more energy.    I’m more upbeat and cheerful. I have a more positive attitude about each day, am more enthusiastic about waking up each morning and frankly more excited about life and my future goals.
 
Just this week I ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen for months (she doesn’t know about my small steps experiment).  She hugged me and spoke.  “Karen, you look so good…you just look so healthy.”  I wanted to give her a big kiss, leap up in the air and shout Yippee, it’s working!
 
#6 What’s not working so well.
I appreciate the positive feedback I’m receiving from many of you.  However, I had originally hoped that this would be a group learning experience. But sadly, I’ve yet to talk to any of you that have felt motivated enough to jump on the band wagon of small steps with me. It’s a bit of a disappointment because things are usually more fun when you do them with friends… It’s making me feel very ‘me centered’.  I just wished I could get you guys psyched as well.
 
As far as a general overview of what I have learned so far.  I see that Tony Robbins words are true for me; having small goals and taking small steps has certainly produced more momentum.  The idea of going up the stairs at work with a bit of pizzazz in my step, or parking across the parking lot and walking with pep in my step, or a quick 4-minute weightlifting break are all things that are easy to do and make me feel good immediately.  The healthier I eat, the more I appreciate eating healthy.  So instead of feeling like a martyr on this strict ‘self-improvement’ regime, I am actually enjoying myself.

​So, I will keep on keeping on.... with a smile

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