“YOU see, in life, lots of people know what to do but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.” Tony Robbins
Quite recently, I had a ‘real talk’ type of conversation with a client. She was at the midpoint mark in her coaching programme but was inconsistent in putting all that she was uncovering and learning into action.
She would diligently show up for her sessions and would do all the inner work but neglected to follow through with her heart work outside of our time together.
This of course was a red flag and counterproductive. We however, looked at the pattern as an opportunity to take a deeper look to see what was actually fueling the behaviour.
Truth be told, the actual coaching sessions are only part of the transformation process. The actual change happens when the new perspective and behaviour is implemented and actioned through consistent practice.
This experience with my client reminded me that no matter how many personal growth books we read, how many coaching programmes we engage in, how many classes we attend or workshops we go to, the real, transformational work occurs when we consciously put into action all that we have learnt.
Otherwise, all we will get is a mind full of information, a bookshelf of materials and unrealized goals.
A few years ago, I had the same eureka moment, after feeling completely stuck and frustrated with several reoccurring life patterns and a general lack of aliveness and joy.
Similar to my client, I was actively working on being a better version of myself. I was ferociously attending personal growth classes, reading several books and worked with a Happiness Coach. However not much seemed to change or at least nothing that was noticeable.
This was both disappointing and tiring. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t seeing the results the books, coaches and teachers said I would get because after all I was actively doing all the things I was supposed to be doing. Or was I?
After some time of hitting my head on a brick wall, as obvious as it might seem, I finally got it. I eventually realized what the missing ingredient was. While I was learning several proven techniques and methods of how to enrich my life, I was neglecting the most important factor, the application of my knowledge into action.
I was essentially neglecting the most critical step to the results I was desiring, ACTION. I’d failed to put all that I was learning into practice, which was the root cause of the apparent stagnation.
Taking massive action then became my goal. Instead of trying to learn more, I decided to implement and practice the abundance of wisdom and insight I was now aware of, towards ultimately realizing my vision. This choice was my game changer and made all the difference in my life. It was essentially the catalysts to experiencing all that I was desiring.
As growth seekers, sometimes, we can easily get bombarded with more and more learning and more and more information. While I admit, as a growth seeker myself, continuous learning is both delightful and engaging, if we aren’t implementing what we are learning and failing to act on it, we are denying ourselves of the change and new life experiences we are calling in.
Personal growth resources such as life coaching, self-development books, workshops and classes serve us by providing avenues of exposing us to tried and tested developmental approaches and techniques. They also help to increase our self-awareness, while facilitating new perspectives and habits, all towards guiding us in the direction of being our best selves.
However, the real value is and will always be in your actions, which move you from a concept to experience. And the only way this becomes possible is through consistent practice.
Just like an amateur athlete who commits to her goals, not only by learning the theory about her chosen discipline but actively practicing her skills and techniques daily, until she becomes proficient at them and embodies them; so too, as personal growth seekers, we need to consistently practice our new perspectives and habits which will inevitably move us in our desired direction.
According to The Mindful Body website, “A practice is an activity that you perform routinely in order to establish a habit. A daily practice is a combination of repetitive actions (or practices) that you take on in order to cultivate a healthy mind and body… The intention of a daily practice is that it is done with such regularity that it becomes routine like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Once routine, it requires minimal thought. You just do it… Think of the daily practice like a closed loop system, where the practices for each element feed the others and together, they form your total daily practice.”
Hal Elrod author of The Miracle Morning created a simple and easy to use formula which has helped thousands of growth seekers to be more deliberate in implementing and practicing new perspectives and habits, which has resulted in more focus, joy, ease and success with their goals.
I have personally used the formula for more than 7 years now and have also made it an integral part of my clients’ coaching programme because of its tremendous results.
The daily practice only requires 1 hour of self-care and focuses on your entire being, mind, body and spirit. It includes 6 activities all requiring only 10 minutes each and can be easily remembered by its acronym S.A.V.E.R.S.
The author recommends that the practice be done first thing in the morning as it helps to set the tone for your day. However, it can also be done during a time that best suits your schedule.
Silence- The idea here is to quiet your mind, quiet the chatter and start the day with calm thoughts: Meditation, Prayer, Deep Breathing & Reflection.
Affirmations- Declare positive and uplifting words to help you achieve your goals.
Visualizations- Imagine yourself step by step doing each activity needed to accomplish your goals. Then imagine what it would feel like when you succeed.
Exercise- This doesn’t have to be powerlifting or long-distance running. Just do some body weight exercises for 10 minutes to get the blood and oxygen flowing to the brain.
Reading- Fill your mind with positive thoughts and ideas to improve yourself. Learn the knowledge of people who have accomplished the things that you want to do: Personal Development, Professional development, Inspiring Stories, Audio, Videos.
Scribing- Writing or journaling is a great way to process your thoughts and reflect on your life. It will help you be more self-aware and more articulate.
Each activity is designed to help you create awareness, institute new perspectives, and actively engage in new habits, all based on your personal and professional aspirations.
Instituting a daily self-development practice is important in helping to move your life from one of knowledge and concepts to action and results. This is a proven way of bringing you closer to achieving your goals.
For more information about The Miracle Morning visit www.miraclemorning.com.