#PositiveVibes - 30 Days

By John R. Nocero & Nicole M. Palmer

The VIBE: Just one month. Give it ONE month.

John: In the last 11 days, I have experienced my mindset reset with Mel Robbins, had a crippling back injury that I am rehabbing with yoga, saved my energy for what really matters and started to change how I think. If I can change how I think, I change my life. Period.

These are not goals. These are themes. Goals are overrated. Themes aren’t. Nicole and I have had this debate before. Now, it’s validated by Manson, who argues to focus on singular goals in life rather than developing underlying habits. So, when energy and discipline runs out (and it always does because self-discipline is limited), people are right back to where they started. With habits, on the other hand, there’s no single endpoint that must be reached. The only goal of habits is that the goal is never over, it’s a simple daily or weekly repetition that one does until muscle memory and brain chemistry kick in and you’re now performing the desired action on autopilot. With goals, every day you go back to the gym feels harder. With habits, after a while, it feels harder to not go to the gym than it does to go. Therefore, it is a better investment of one’s finite energy and discipline to focus on building habits. It’s fine to still have goals. But habits solidify them. How do you get them? 30 days. Just do it for 30 days. That’s all. It will take that time to solidify.

Yo, Nicole, it is no wonder that writing is one of his six fundamental habits? How do you change your habits? I know you believe in the 30-day rule – tell ‘em why?

Nicole: Anyone else still writing 2018? Please raise your hand. They say it takes 30 days to kick an old habit or learn a new habit. I am a firm believer in the 30- day rule. I’m still mistakenly writing 2018 and catching myself. It’s day 16 and I am getting better at noticing it. I am still in the process of programming my brain to think and write 2019.

I received an e-mail today that had the date 2018 and they meant 2019. It’s nice to know they are on day 16 too and still getting into the groove of writing 2019. I am notorious for the 30-day rule. I go through phases where I like to give up things for 30 days for no reason. I’ve given up coffee, energy drinks, chocolate, no meat, no beef, and I’ll never forget “no drink July.” I was at a work function about 2 years ago and I was drinking bottled water in the sweltering heat. My co-workers were pressuring me to have an adult beverage and I was holding firm to my “30-day no drink July.” They did not know I had a secret and it was more like, no drink for 9-months! My co-workers know me and how I like to give up things for 30 days and they went along with it. By August, I explained in an email of why I chose “no drink July,”, where I sent a picture of me holding a jar of “prego” sauce. Enough said! 

Do you believe in the 30-day rule? How long does it take for you to learn a new habit? Please comment below and remember to like and share ??

#dreamteam #30days #giveusonemonth