💭 4 simple questions for positive change | Weekly Wharmby #59

Hello,

Below are 4 simple questions that will help you figure out exactly why changes you should make, how they will benefit you, and what's stopping you from making them. Beware: it's hard to ignore them once you've answered!

🚶🏻We know what to change, so why don't we?

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned a great quote from a video on YouTube called 23 Life Lessons in Under 9 Minutes from James Smith (PT/gym guy). Here it is:

This is an excellent way to identify areas of our lives that we can make changes to. But, the most powerful element of this is in the final line: if it’s so good, then what’s stopping you from starting tomorrow?

The most common reason is that humans are hardwired to avoid change and stay in the comfort zone. I’ve written about this before - it’s called status quo syndrome. And this final question makes us aware of it.

My favourite mantra in life, and something I always come back to, is Nobody is coming to save you. Only I can make the changes required to be healthier and happier. There isn’t a master plan or a saviour winding their way towards me.

And with this kind of thought experiment, it forces us to be our own saviour. What is your excuse?

Here’s my thought process which may help your own - it’s always much better to write these things down rather than think them through as the act of getting words down in

What’s something I could do tomorrow that would make my life better?

• Stretching (i.e. yoga)

• Investing in a daily writing practise to eventually earn money as a freelance writer

• Reduce my time on social media to less than an hour a day (6.25% of my waking hours seems enough)

If I did this everyday for 100 days, where would I be?

• I would be flexible, less injury prone and have a greater range of motion meaning better performance in the gym

• After 100 days of investing in freelance writing I’d hope to have started to make money on the side of my day to day job, meaning I would have more £££ overall

• I would have more time - far more valuable than money. I would probably sleep better and use my time more effectively - such as investing in said freelance writing practice

If I don’t do it, how will it affect my life?

• I will have a higher risk of injury and continue to have this nagging feeling that I KNOW yoga would make a massive improvement to my life

• I will still be sat here wishing I could make money from my writing

• I would waste a lot of time pointlessly scrolling through social media, and miss out on the many more positive and productive ways I’d spend my time otherwise

Why wouldn’t you do that thing starting tomorrow that you know would benefit your life?

• For yoga and writing the main reason is that I don’t know if I can find the time to dedicate to them. But of course - if you want something enough then you can always find the time. Perhaps from wasting as much time on social media?

This is a really useful exercise and I strongly recommend it if you need a nudge in the right direction.

This week: ⬇️

🎧 I’m listening to the Football Ramble’s daily World Cup coverage - I have been listening to the Ramble for years and these guys get better and better

⚽️ I’m watching what else but the World Cup of course!

💭 I’ve been thinking about the fact that the days will stop getting shorter in just over 3 weeks which is a great feeling if you love Spring/Summer like me. Or just daylight, obviously

🗓 I’m planning my weeks out to ensure I stay on top of the increase in social events that come around every Christmas alongside exercise and visiting the gym - it’s a simple thing, but adding everything into my calendar at the start of the week makes all the difference

🕺🏻 I’m seeing Bicep at Ally Pally - been in the calendar for a long long time. Can’t wait

💬 And finally, a quote

James Smith - How to be Confident

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