"If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten."
When was the last time you got dressed and gave thought as to whether to put your socks or your pants on first? When was the last time you thought about brushing your teeth before or after a shower? There are so many things we do in an average day that have become so habitual, we don’t even think about them.
Despite the fact that we do things so consistently, it doesn’t mean that we are doing them the easiest or most efficient way. It’s just that once something becomes a habit, we no longer give much thought to doing it any differently. By raising our awareness and actually being ‘awake’ when we do things, we may come to realize that some things could be much easier, simpler, or faster. Other times, it’s about doing things purposefully and consciously rather than mindlessly and habitually.
Here’s what I call a ‘shallow’ example. It’s shallow because it’s so simplistic and doesn’t have any particularly deep meaning attached to it. The key, however, is to take these shallow examples and figure out how they might translate to the more important and meaningful things that we consistently do. For the longest time, I kept a pair of scissors in my dressing table. Each time I needed them, it meant opening the main section, then opening one of the small drawers to get to them. Of course, the reverse was true when returning them.
In one of those ‘awake’ moments, it occurred to me how much time I was wasting and moved the scissors to an outside drawer, thereby creating only one step to retrieve or return them. On its own, it doesn’t seem particularly profound. However, it then became my mission to become more aware of other habitual things I was doing that could be done differently. Many things remained the same, but there are still little things that shift around because I realize there’s an easier or more efficient way to arrange or handle them.
Sometimes we get locked into purchasing a particular brand and never give thought to trying another. From experience, I have found that on occasion, another product truly is superior and that I needed to be ‘awake’ to the habit of buying the same thing automatically and become open and willing to give something else a try.
In one of the workshops I present based on the topic of change, one of the first exercises is to have all of the participants relocate to a different section of the room. Those in the front move to the back or those on the extreme right move to the center or to the left, etc. While there’s a tremendous amount of grumbling and even annoyance, inevitably the comments following the change of seats are astounding. People are amazed at the different vantage point, or perhaps then being able to see the flip chart more easily, or they now have an opportunity to gaze out of the window, etc. While this is a contrived exercise to make a point, ultimately, the positive effects have far outweighed the negative preconceptions and the disturbance.
INVITATION TO EXPERIMENT:
How many things – in an average day – are you consistently doing the same way? Perhaps it’s your morning routine, perhaps it’s the route you drive, or maybe it’s a product you purchase. By becoming more conscious of your choices and decisions, I invite you to consider trying something different. At times, it won’t work out to be better, but there may be times when it will free up some energy and/or time, or expose a new perspective, and perhaps you’ll be glad that you were open and willing to try something in a different way.
If you feel inclined, please let me know if you decide to go ahead and try this experiment. I would love to hear about your experiences. Your feedback and comments have been most welcomed:-) Keep them coming!!
Very best regards,
marion@lifecoachinggroup.com
© 2004-05. All rights reserved. Marion Franklin, www.lifecoachinggroup.com
Comments? Feedback? lllfeedback@lifecoachinggroup.com
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