Last week, I shared about hitting that reset button when life pulls us off track. This week, I’m delighted to hand the reins over to my dear friend and colleague, Lorraine Gambacourt, RDH. Lorraine took that theme and beautifully expanded on it—bringing her own experiences, insights, and a powerful mantra that can help us all move from good intentions into consistent action. Her reflections are a wonderful reminder that sometimes the smallest choices are the ones that set the biggest changes in motion.
Here’s Lorraine with this week’s On Track Tuesday:
It's Easy To…and It’s Easy Not To
While summer is not officially over, there are definitely hints of fall around us reminding me of the many projects and responsibilities coming up that I need to begin to focus on.
This summer I decided to completely detach from everything related to work and simply spend time living in the moment making the most of every day, doing things that made me smile and feel great. It included a 31-day road trip adventure to BC, where my son and his wife moved to last year. When I returned home to a lawn that needed a lot of TLC, I even chose to make the mundane task of picking crabgrass feel like a meditation! Lol
On the other hand, I realized I was also becoming maybe a little complacent. Although I had made excellent progress with a goal to have regular physical activity this summer, I was struggling to find the motivation to turn my attention to the many projects coming up in the fall. I definitely felt like I had lost my “rhythm and mojo” as Kathleen described last week.
Two things turned me around. The first, was being able to spend time with Kathleen for two days up at her beautiful home in Dorset. A mentor once told me, “Lone rangers die on the vine.” I had been feeling isolated, and uninspired. Sometimes we need the company of friends and colleagues who support and encourage us to brainstorm with us, to pull us back to that place of inspiration where tasks are no longer a dread, but an exciting challenge. After our time together, I indeed felt inspired and motivated to get back on track—I had pushed that reset button!
The second thing that helped me, was a daily practice that I told Kathleen about on our walk. I had been using a mantra, repeating it daily for the past several weeks—a mantra that had helped me get back on track with my physical activity routine after my month-long vacation. It was a mantra that years ago, a mentor of mine shared with her organization to remind us of the goals we had set in our business, with the intent that it nudges us into action. She said it helped her develop consistency—something she struggled with. Something that many of us struggle with, including me. The mantra? “It’s easy to…and its easy not to”.
Consistency is often described as the backbone of achievement, be it personal or professional. It transforms small efforts into sustained progress, clearing a path for us to reach our goals.
It’s easy to…and its easy not to. What a simple statement that can be applied to any small task as part of a larger goal! It’s a statement that requires you to make a conscious choice. A simple choice. The choice to take action, or not. If you choose to embrace action, it becomes easier each day, like strengthening a muscle. Those actions build habits, which strengthens the mental muscle of discipline. Those habits lead to accomplishment and a feeling of satisfaction.
John Maxwell (one of my favourite leadership authors) says, “Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time".
I celebrated the fact that I had made progress with consistency over the past month with regards to my physical activity goal—I now needed to take some additional actions on the professional side. So, I did just that, making lists of action steps each day to take towards my upcoming projects and responsibilities, ticking them off as I worked through them. I made a promise to myself that I would follow through on the task I decided I would accomplish that day (even if it was only 15 minutes). Those small actions made me feel like I had accomplished something relevant. I finally feel like my “mojo” had returned and I am back on track!
It’s easy to…and it's easy not to…
What have you been putting off because you have been feeling unmotivated or uninspired? What small action steps can you take towards your goal? Perhaps the first step is meeting with someone who supports you and will help you gain that motivation you need. Push that reset button. Then…
Could you decide to commit to 10-20 minutes of physical activity three times a week knowing it will improve your physical and mental wellbeing?
Could you initiate a creative planning session as the first step towards starting your own business that you have been desiring to, and brainstorm with others who have already succeeded?
Have you made a list of the products, modalities or protocols you have learned about from courses you have attended in the past six months? Could you schedule a team meeting to strategize and organize what you will implement and how?
Inaction (not to be confused with downtime and stillness which is as essential to us as the air we breathe) leads to complacency, stagnation, lack of achievement and disappointment. It does not feel good…
Action (no matter how small) leads to consistency, habits, discipline and progress, which is incredibly energizing and fulfilling!
Two sides of the same coin. Which side is face up to you right now? No judgement…
What side do you want to be on?
Choose to begin to take action today! Its easy to… and its easy not to!
I’ll celebrate with you!
Lorraine Gambacourt, RDH
Thank you, Lorraine, for sharing such an inspiring reminder. As we step into this new season, I encourage you to reflect on your own “easy to” and “easy not to” moments. What small, consistent actions can you commit to this week that will move you forward? I’d love to hear from you—hit reply and share your thoughts with me!
Warmly,
Kathleen
Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc ~ Founder | President
