One thing we know about changing habits is that they don’t, and won’t, change on their own. So in order to change what we do we need to rework a routine or two.
Today we will focus on five mental targets that will help us with hard-to-change habits and how we can build these practices into our daily routine. We will calls these The Daily 5.
There is power in repetition. Not only have I seen this work in my own life but there’s a ton of research to back it up which is why we need to build better routines. Ones that support the change we want to make.
Focusing on daily practices that reinforce this type of change will give purpose to your step. Set a reminder on your phone. Write them down. Pray through them and ask God to give you wisdom and the help you need to put them into practice.
Start your morning with The Daily 5 in mind. Allow them to weave in and out of your thoughts and influence your actions throughout the day. And if you are really in the overachieving mode, journal the wins and losses in the evening to fine-tune a better game plan for tomorrow.
I’ve listed five practices to help you get started. But feel free to create your own list. Either way, give this a good try. It has the potential to change not only your day, but the year ahead.
The Daily 5
1. Set your intention (decide to commit to the change you want to make).
2. Create space in your decision process (take a time-out and allow room for reason).
3. Be brave and do it anyway (practice courage over comfort).
4. Celebrate the small wins (reinforce what you did right).
5. Relax and Refuel (slow down and do something restorative).
In using these strategies for change it’s important to disengage our autopilot settings and switch over to manual for a while. Doing so makes us more mindful and being more mindful helps us to make better decisions.
Keep in mind, The Daily 5 can evolve over time. What works for me might not work for you. Use what works, ditch the rest.
“I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.“ (1 Corinthians 9:26)
- Make a list of five mindful practices that will help you make better decisions when it comes to the habits you want to make and break.
- How can you restructure your day to honor these practices?
- Evaluate what works and what doesn’t, then make adjustments.
Prayer is just a conversation with God. Talk to Him about what you learned and what you need from Him today.
Be bold. Be brave. Be free.
Dori
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