Embrace Flaws for Change
The Power of Hugging Small Habits: How Being “Bad” Can Lead to Success
We all know how it feels to have grand plans and ambitious goals, especially when it comes to self-improvement. But what if I told you that sometimes, hugging mediocrity and being “bad” at something can actually lead to success? Sounds counterintuitive, right? Well, let me share a personal story that might just change your perspective.
Back in March of 2020, when my family received the stay-at-home order, I was determined to make the most of it. I had this grand idea of using the extra time to develop new habits and find happiness in the process. Little did I know that my pre-coronavirus routines would quickly crumble under the weight of the unexpected changes.
As someone who has coached others in effective habit formation for a long time, it was ironic how much I struggled to follow my own advice during those initial months. I found myself resisting the very methods I knew to be effective. Why? Because I loved setting ambitious goals that got my adrenaline pumping. The idea of a big, audacious achievement excited me far more than the thought of building small, consistent habits.
Take exercise, for example. When the pandemic hit, I optimistically decided to reignite my passion for running. I chose a half-marathon as my ultimate goal and meticulously planned a detailed training schedule. But despite all my preparation, I soon found myself veering off track. The grand plan led to a spectacular failure. I started skipping training runs, giving in to the excuse of lacking motivation or time.
That’s when I realized that the key to success lies not in the grandeur of our plans or the depth of our convictions, but in our willingness to be “bad” at what we desire. It’s natural to want to excel, to be good at everything we do. But the truth is, our ability to follow through on intentions and establish new habits depends on our acceptance of imperfection.
Being good at something requires effort and motivation to be in proportion to each other. The harder a task is for us, the more motivation we need to sustain it. However, as we all know, motivation can be fickle. It ebbs and flows, making it unreliable as the sole driving force for long-term change. When motivation wanes, we tend to default to the path of least resistance, choosing what is easy rather than what is necessary for growth.
So, how do we break free from this cycle? By hugging the concept of better-than-nothing behavior. Instead of striving for perfection or forcing ourselves into rigorous routines, we need to start with something minuscule that is still better than doing nothing at all.
For me, it was as simple as committing to running for just one minute every day. After brushing my teeth in the morning, I would change out of my pajamas, step outside, and run for that solitary minute. Some days, I would push myself to go for 15 or 20 minutes, but on the days when motivation was lacking or time was scarce, that one minute still mattered. It became a symbol of consistency and progress.
Maybe you’ve experienced similar failures in your own attempts to make positive changes. Whether it’s reducing plastic usage, practicing meditation, becoming anti-racist, eating healthier, or pursuing any other self-improvement goal, I have great news for you: you can start right now. The only requirement is to let go of the pressure to be perfect and instead focus on doing something ridiculously easy that you can sustain every day, even when things don’t go as planned.
This better-than-nothing behavior is not meant to be your ultimate goal but rather a stepping stone toward greater things. The goal is repetition, not high achievement. It’s about being mediocre at first but showing up consistently. Taking that one step, no matter how small, every single day.
If your better-than-nothing habit doesn’t initially feel like a significant improvement, remember that simply getting started is often the hardest part. By initiating a behavior, you’re creating a neural pathway in your brain that paves the way for a new habit. With time and repetition, this habit becomes second nature, requiring less willpower and effort.
The beauty of a better-than-nothing habit is its adaptability to our varying levels of motivation, energy, and circumstances. It’s something we can do even when we’re tired, stressed, or distracted. And once we start acting on autopilot, that’s when our habit begins to expand organically.
After just a few days of running for that one minute, I noticed a shift within myself. It wasn’t a feeling of obligation or the need to impress others; it was a genuine desire to keep running. The act of running had become natural, and the thought of stopping felt more unnatural. I had become a runner, not by aiming for greatness but by allowing myself to be “bad” at it.
However, I must caution you against the temptation to do more than your designated better-than-nothing habit. The moment you introduce difficulty, negotiation, or a sense of obligation, you risk jeopardizing everything. It’s when you reach for your phone instead of sticking to your intention, or when you succumb to Netflix binges instead of taking that one-minute walk.
Remember, the beauty of the better-than-nothing habit lies in its independence from motivation. It doesn’t require immense energy or willpower. You don’t have to be exceptionally good at it. You only need to be willing to do something that is unambitious but still better than doing nothing at all.
So, I encourage you to strip down that thing you’ve been meaning to do into something so easy that it becomes effortless. Whether it’s eating one piece of lettuce with your lunch or going for a one-minute walk outside, start small. Let go of grand plans and hug the power of simplicity. Allow yourself to be mediocre, but be mediocre every day.
Remember, the goal is not to compare ourselves to others but to surpass our previous selves. It’s in those tiny shifts that our grand plans and ambitious goals are truly born. So, take that first step, no matter how small, and watch as your better-than-nothing habit blossoms into something remarkable.
Overcoming Ambition: Why Mediocrity is Key to Establishing New Habits
Have you ever felt the burning desire to achieve greatness, to set audacious goals, and push yourself to the limits? I know I have. But what if I told you that sometimes, hugging mediocrity and being okay with being average can actually be the key to establishing new habits? Intrigued? Let me share a personal story that might just change the way you approach self-improvement.
When the stay-at-home order hit my family in March of 2020, I was determined to make the most of the situation. I believed it was the perfect opportunity to develop new habits and grow happiness. Little did I know that my pre-coronavirus routines would crumble under the weight of the unexpected changes.
Despite my extensive knowledge and experience in coaching others on effective habit formation, I found myself struggling to follow my own advice during those initial months. It was a humbling experience. You see, I have always been the kind of person who thrives on ambitious goals, someone who finds excitement in taking on monumental challenges rather than settling for less.
Let’s take exercise as an example. When the pandemic hit, I eagerly hugged the idea of reigniting my passion for running. I set my sights on training for a half-marathon and meticulously devised a detailed plan to get me there. But as the weeks went by, I soon discovered that all my planning and preparation led to a rather disappointing outcome.
I started skipping training runs, despite understanding the importance of exercise and its positive impact on our health. The truth was, I quit because I wasn’t willing to accept anything less than perfection. I wanted to be an exceptional athlete right from the start. And when I failed to meet those high expectations, it was easy to give up altogether.
It was during this challenging time that I learned a valuable lesson: being good at something requires our effort and motivation to be in balance. The more difficult a task is for us, the more motivation we need to sustain it. However, motivation is not always readily available. It comes and goes, making it an unreliable driving force for long-term change.
So, how can we break free from this cycle of striving for perfection? The answer lies in hugging the concept of being “bad” at our desired behavior. It may seem counterintuitive, but bear with me. When we let go of the need to excel and allow ourselves to be mediocre, we open up a world of possibilities.
You see, establishing new habits isn’t about instantaneously becoming an expert or achieving greatness. It’s about building consistency and creating a solid foundation. It’s about taking small steps and making progress, no matter how modest it may seem. That’s where the magic lies.
Instead of striving for high achievement right from the start, we need to start small. We need to strip down our goals and behaviors to something ridiculously easy, something that is better than not doing anything at all. This better-than-nothing behavior becomes our starting point, our anchor for future growth.
For me, it was as simple as committing to running for just one minute each day. After brushing my teeth in the morning, I would change into my workout clothes and step outside, with the sole goal of running for a mere 60 seconds. It may not sound like much, but it was a consistent effort.
Some days, I found myself motivated and would extend my runs to 15 or 20 minutes. Other days, when motivation was lacking or time was scarce, that one minute was all I managed. And you know what? It was enough. It was better than doing nothing at all. It became a ritual, a habit that I repeated daily.
Perhaps you’ve experienced similar struggles in your own quest for self-improvement. Whether you’re trying to reduce plastic usage, practice meditation, be more anti-racist, or eat healthier, I have good news for you: you can start right now. The key is to let go of grand plans and hug the power of simplicity.
By allowing ourselves to be mediocre at first, we remove the immense pressure to be perfect. We create space for growth and development. We give ourselves permission to take that first step, no matter how small, and gradually build upon it.
Remember, the goal is not to compare ourselves to others or strive for immediate greatness. The goal is to surpass our previous selves, one small step at a time. So, let go of the need to be exceptional right from the start. Hug the idea of being average, but be consistently average.
It’s in this space of mediocrity that we establish the foundation for future success. It’s in our commitment to repetition and daily effort that our grand plans and ambitious goals begin to take shape. So, don’t be afraid to start small and be okay with being “bad” at first. Hug mediocrity, and watch as it leads you on a path of continuous growth and improvement.
Better Than Nothing: How Minimal Effort Can Create Lasting Change
We all have moments when we strive for perfection, when we set lofty goals and imagine grand achievements. I know I’ve been guilty of it. But what if I told you that sometimes, it’s the minimal effort, the better-than-nothing approach, that can actually create lasting change? Intriguing, right? Let me share a personal story that might shift your perspective.
When the stay-at-home order was imposed on my family in March of 2020, I was determined to make the most of the situation. I saw it as an opportunity to develop new habits and hug a happier lifestyle. Little did I know that my pre-coronavirus routines would crumble under the weight of unexpected challenges.
Despite my expertise in coaching others on effective habit formation, I found myself struggling to follow my own advice during those initial months. It was a humbling experience, to say the least. You see, I’ve always been the type of person who thrives on ambitious goals, someone who finds excitement in taking on immense challenges rather than settling for the bare minimum.
Take exercise, for instance. When the pandemic hit, I enthusiastically decided to rekindle my passion for running. I aimed to train for a half-marathon and meticulously crafted a detailed plan. But as time went on, I realized that all my careful planning and preparation led to a disappointing outcome.
I started skipping training runs, falling into the trap of perfectionism. I wanted to be an exceptional athlete right from the start. And when I fell short of those high expectations, it was all too easy to give up and abandon the entire endeavor.
It was during this challenging period that I discovered a powerful truth: establishing new habits isn’t about instant greatness or immediate perfection. It’s about consistency and progress, no matter how small. And that’s where the concept of better-than-nothing behavior comes into play.
Rather than striving for unattainable perfection or overwhelming ourselves with rigorous routines, we need to start with something minuscule, something that is still better than doing nothing at all. This approach becomes our foundation for lasting change.
For me, it was as simple as committing to running for just one minute every day. After brushing my teeth in the morning, I would change into my running gear and step outside, with the sole goal of running for a mere 60 seconds. It may seem insignificant, but it was an act of consistency and commitment.
Some days, I found myself motivated and extended my runs to 15 or 20 minutes. Other days, when motivation waned or time was scarce, that one minute was all I managed. But here’s the remarkable part: it was enough. It was better than doing nothing at all. That one minute became a ritual, a habit I repeated daily.
Perhaps you’ve faced similar struggles in your own pursuit of personal growth. Whether you’re aiming to reduce plastic usage, practice meditation, become more anti-racist, or adopt healthier eating habits, I have good news for you: you can start right now. The key is to let go of grand plans and hug the power of small, consistent actions.
By being willing to do something that is wildly unambitious, yet still better than doing nothing, we pave the way for change. We give ourselves permission to start small and gradually build momentum. It’s in the repetition, the dedication to these better-than-nothing behaviors, that transformation truly takes root.
Remember, the goal isn’t immediate perfection or comparing ourselves to others. The goal is to surpass our previous selves, one step at a time. So, release the pressure to achieve greatness from the start. Hug the idea of being mediocre, but be consistently mediocre.
Within this space of minimal effort, we lay the groundwork for lasting change. It’s in our commitment to repetition, even when motivation wanes or circumstances are challenging, that our habits solidify and become second nature. And from there, the possibilities for growth and expansion are limitless.
So, don’t underestimate the power of minimal effort. Hug the better-than-nothing approach and watch as it brings about transformative results. Start small, be consistent, and celebrate every step, no matter how small, on your journey toward lasting change.
From Struggle to Success: Hugging Imperfection on the Path to Personal Growth
We all know the feeling of striving for perfection, of wanting to be exceptional in everything we do. I can certainly relate. But what if I told you that hugging imperfection, accepting our flaws and mistakes, can actually pave the way to personal growth and success? Intrigued? Let me share a personal story that might touch with you.
When the stay-at-home order was issued in March of 2020, my family, like many others, had to adapt to a new way of life. I saw it as an opportunity to create positive change and embark on a journey of personal growth. However, little did I know that the road ahead would be filled with struggles and setbacks.
Despite my background in coaching others on effective habits, I found myself grappling with following my own advice during those initial months. It was a humbling experience. You see, I’ve always been the kind of person who loves setting ambitious goals, someone who thrives on challenges and strives for excellence.
One area where I faced a significant struggle was in maintaining an exercise routine. When the pandemic hit, I enthusiastically decided to reignite my passion for running. I set my sights on training for a half-marathon and meticulously crafted a detailed plan. However, as time went on, I discovered that all my planning and preparation didn’t guarantee success.
I started skipping training runs, plagued by the fear of not meeting my high expectations. I wanted to be an extraordinary athlete right from the start. And when I fell short of those lofty goals, it was tempting to give up entirely.
It was during this difficult time that I learned a valuable lesson: hugging imperfection is vital on the path to personal growth. It’s not about achieving greatness overnight or striving for unattainable perfection. It’s about acknowledging our limitations, accepting that we will make mistakes, and finding the strength to keep going despite them.
Personal growth isn’t a linear journey. It’s filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. It’s in our struggles and setbacks that we find opportunities for learning and self-discovery. It’s when we hug imperfection that we unlock our true potential.
Rather than being discouraged by our failures, we should see them as stepping stones on the path to success. Each mistake or setback is an opportunity to learn, grow, and refine our approach. It’s through these experiences that we gain toughness, perseverance, and a deeper understanding of ourselves.
So, how can we hug imperfection on our journey of personal growth? Firstly, we need to let go of the need for perfection. Instead of focusing solely on the end result, we should shift our attention to the progress we’re making. Every small step forward, no matter how imperfect, is a victory in itself.
Secondly, we need to grow self-compassion. It’s important to treat ourselves with kindness and understanding when we stumble along the way. We’re only human, after all, and it’s natural to encounter obstacles and make mistakes. By offering ourselves compassion, we create a safe space for growth and self-improvement.
Lastly, we must remember that personal growth is a continuous process. It’s not about reaching a specific destination but rather hugging the journey itself. By focusing on the present moment and committing to consistent effort, we allow ourselves the opportunity to evolve and become the best versions of ourselves.
So, if you find yourself facing struggles and setbacks on your path to personal growth, remember that imperfection is not something to be feared. It’s through hugging our imperfections, accepting our flaws, and learning from our mistakes that we unlock our true potential. Hug the journey, celebrate your progress, and watch as you transform from struggle to success.
Conclusion
On the journey of personal growth, we often find ourselves striving for perfection, setting ambitious goals, and craving exceptional results. However, my personal experiences have taught me the immense value of hugging imperfection and the power of small, consistent efforts.
We’ve explored the concept of better-than-nothing behavior, understanding that even minimal effort can create lasting change. It’s not about aiming for greatness right from the start, but rather about building a solid foundation through repetition and commitment. By being willing to be “bad” at something and starting small, we create space for growth and progress.
We’ve learned that our ability to establish new habits and make positive changes doesn’t solely rely on motivation or understanding the benefits of our actions. It depends on our willingness to accept imperfection, to let go of grand plans, and to be consistent in our efforts, even when faced with obstacles.
Hugging mediocrity and being okay with being average allows us to lay the groundwork for lasting change. By taking small steps, even if they seem insignificant, we create a pathway to success. And as we learn to celebrate our progress and hug the journey, we discover that personal growth is a continuous process, not a destination.
So, as you embark on your own path of personal growth, remember to be kind to yourself, to accept imperfection, and to focus on consistent effort rather than immediate perfection. Hug the power of small actions and watch as they lead to significant transformation over time.
Ultimately, personal growth is not about comparing ourselves to others or striving for unattainable ideals. It’s about surpassing our previous selves, hugging imperfection, and releasing our true potential. Hug the journey, celebrate every small victory, and savor the beauty of growth unfolding before your eyes.
