I’ve been spending a lot of time with the same people lately. In the same house. Day after day.
The person I’m getting to know the best isn’t as consistently pleasant or focused or as disciplined as I expect them to be: me.
21 days ago, I made a commitment that when we finished this stretch of isolation and the new normal arrived, I would be a better expression of myself.
I candidly confess: I haven’t succeeded at the level I expect.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who is challenged. Nearly half of the citizens in the U.S. report that the pandemic is hurting their mental health. And many are developing destructive habits, including excessive use of alcohol, binge gaming and movie streaming, overeating and less exercise.
It takes 21 days to create a habit. This fact prompts questions:
- Are the habits you’ve formed going to make you stronger tomorrow?
- In the face of such extreme change, are you being the person you know you can be? (That you promised yourself and your family you’d be?)
When we keep commitments to ourselves, we can then trust ourselves. From this, we’re rewarded with a sort of freedom and clarity. And this empowers the collaborative leader to be more effective at leading others.
We’ve got 21 more days of isolation (at a minimum). There’s still time.
Hat tip: M.O.
