52 Weeks of gratitude - Week 2

"Be happy with what you have while working for what you want." ~Helen Keller

52 Weeks of Gratitude: Week 2

This week I am grateful for the power of habits and our ability to transform our life any day and at any time. Regardless of whether the habit is good or bad, the first step is the quest for change and since the day after Christmas, I introduced my goals with a new routine to connect current habits I want to include.

Here is a story from Jerry Seinfeld's earlier days as a comic wanting change...

^{Years ago when Seinfeld was a new television show, Jerry Seinfeld was still a touring comic. At the time, I was hanging around clubs doing open mic nights and trying to learn the ropes. One night I was in the club where Seinfeld was working, and before he went on stage, I saw my chance. I had to ask Seinfeld if he had any tips for a young comic. What he told me was something that would benefit me a lifetime...} 

^{He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day. But his advice was better than that. He had a gem of a leverage technique he used on himself and you can use it to motivate yourself—even when you don't feel like it.}

^{He revealed a unique calendar system he uses to pressure himself to write. Here's how it works.}

^{He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker.}

^{For each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. "After a few days you'll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You'll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain."}

^{"Don't break the chain," he said again for emphasis.}

^{There are many simple habits that bring lasting change with minimal effort. All you need to do is begin. Each day that I continue to follow through and make my X I build momentum and strength in my plan.  These are my non-negotiables:}

• Waking early
• meditation (Calm)
• warm lemon water
• morning pages (Julia Cameron, hand written journaling)
• read something educational for at least 10 minutes

I am grateful for the welcome change these simple actions bring in less than 30 minutes each morning. 

If you are just joining, HERE is the first post on the journey

• January - Body/Self
• February - Heart/Grief
• March - Mind/Mindful
• April - Awakenings/ New beginnings
• May -  Family /Friends (share your gratitude)
• June - Nature/Outdoors
• July - Summer/Active
• August - Compliment instead of complaint
• September - Education/autumn
• October - Motivation/Influence
• November - Thankfulness
• December - Kindness/Pay it forward