I believe that everyone likes the idea of challenging themselves to do something outside of their comfort zone. Liking the idea of doing something, is not the same as actually acting on the idea. I like the idea of fishing, but I don’t really want to act on that idea.
When it comes to personal change, acting on something that will improve us, we trend to step too deeply into it too quickly. Or we simply make no attempt as we don’t believe we have the time.
Many a New Year’s resolution has crashed on the rocks of too much too soon, or believing the time commitment is too much. The new habit, or renewed desire is strewn in pieces across the rocks of good intentions.
Steve Chandler in his book, Crazy Good, addresses the time it takes to achieve something. “How much could you improve your life if you took a small step each day on something you have been putting off?” He suggests a `60 Second Challenge.’
One minute of exercise
One minute of deep breathing
One minute of cleaning
One minute to learn a new phrase
One minute to say hello and smile to one person
One minute to read
Now don’t get legalistic about this, instead catch the principle: It is relatively easy to invest a small amount of time in building a new habit, or making an impact. “Even one minute outside your comfort zone is powerful because it stretches you. It opens you. It grows you. You are now in action.”
Let me ask you, do you have a minute? Sure you do. Now do something with it.