I'm much more likely to continue pressing in on a new rhythm, a new discipline when I experience some fruit in the short term. I realized this while encouraging my kids to keep pushing in on learning instruments, writing and drawing projects and creating Halloween costumes this year. Kids reveal too much of my own heart when it comes to routines and disciplines.
I like to get up around 5:45 AM and rotate between mornings of exercise and morning filled with writing. I noticed right away that exercise made an impact - I thought more clearly first thing, I felt better and I even felt that I felt better, part of that mental game, ya know?
Writing on the other hand did not reap immediate fruit. I didn't throw up thousands of fresh insights and words and paradigms. I didn't quickly complete a first or second draft of anything and I definitely didn't strike a publishing deal. The low hanging fruit was not ripe and ready for the pluck.
Nowadays, however, exercise is still refreshing and rewarding but with a less dramatic impact on my dailies. Writing, however, has slipped into a sweet groove of edits and additions. Writing feels good and after six-months of this rhythm I'm much further along on my current project than previous haphazard non-disciplines snubbed.
How are your disciplines? Look for some short-term wins and partner them with some long term goals. Don't forget to invite your kids to press on beside you?
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