“Want results? Do something different and do it long enough to notice a difference.”
~ Michelle Cederberg

This morning I was up at 4 a.m. Now before you start thinking “Wow, what a hard-working, committed person”, let me make one thing crystal clear. It’s not because I wanted to be. I woke up at 4 a.m. to go to the bathroom and when I lay down to go back to sleep my brain had other ideas. I know you’ve been there. My brain clicked on and started running through ideas… contemplating things. This morning that thing was change…and why it’s so hard even though we want what it brings.

For instance, it’s not like I haven’t thought about getting up early to get a kick-start on my writing. All successful people get up early right? It’s just that I haven’t yet made it a habit.

But 4am? I was thinking a more civilized 6 a.m., to give myself even 60 minutes of uninterrupted creative time before my husband gets up or the dog needs her morning walk.

So this morning, in the dusky half-darkness of our room, I semi-illegibly scribbled down some thoughts…and promptly fell back to sleep

When I woke at 7:00 (okay, so I have some work to do on this early concept) I went downstairs, made myself a coffee and a piece of toast and got to writing. Here’s what I was thinking about at 4am (I sure hope it still makes sense.)

Watch the video below, or read the transcript that follows, and then commit to better.

When it comes to change, many of us are afraid of commitment. We want what change can give us but we aren’t willing to commit the time it will take to get it. We don’t want to commit the energy we could use for other simpler, easier, perhaps more fun tasks. We’re afraid we’ll commit to the wrong thing.

But change requires commitment, so somehow, if you want what’s on the other side something has to change. In my life in 2017 that change was around doing these videos, and today it’s around writing book number two… which is the next of my goals I want to crush this year.

The ideas are plentiful, but getting them out on paper is hard. Writing is not a natural thing for me, so I need to focus on it first thing when I’m fresh. And I haven’t been doing that.

I’ll admit that my inability to commit to an a.m. writing routine has been less about writing and more because I was afraid I’d be too tired later in the day. That and I love my bed. Sure, I could decide to sleep in, write later in the day and not worry about those silly fears but it hasn’t been happening. Not only am I not writing, but the book ideas are waking me up at ridiculous hours and guess what, I’m tired anyway!

The thing about change is that is requires you to do something different. I want to start writing book number two, I’m not making it happen later in the day, so my different is to get up earlier and make it the first thing I tackle every day – even for just 30 minutes. I can have a nap later if I need one.

What’s something that you want to change, and what do you need to do different?

Think about it. Go back to your goals from the beginning of the year… or your Work-Life Rethink from Video 7. Choose your change… then follow this two step rule:

1. Do something different. Different enough that it matters. Different enough that you feel it.

2. And do it long enough to notice a difference. Commit to a week, a month …heck, a year! And stick to it.

You want sustainable change? Commit. Do something different today, and then get up and do it again tomorrow, and the next day and the next. Every effort you make will move you toward the change you desire…even the small efforts. So, do something different and do it long enough to notice a difference.

What is the change you’re committing to and what will you do different to get there? Post a comment below to declare your commitment (sharing is great for accountability)…or send me an email here… and then make that first difference today. Until next time, I’m Michelle Cederberg, reminding you that commitment is good…now get out there and #DTFW!

Michelle Cederberg, CSP, MKin, BA Psyc
CEP, CPCC, ORSC

Empowering today’s dreamers, leaders and go-getters to create the life and career they want.


www.michellecederberg.com
403-850-5589

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