While working out I was listening to Jordan Peterson’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
I enjoyed how he explained small things adding up. First, figure out where those things lead to.
You should outline where you want to be three years from now. Something realistic. It can be a stretch but you’ll know in your gut where the bounds of realistic are. (You can see the steps leading to it.) That’s the heaven you’ll try to run toward.
Now, also outline where you don’t want to be three years from now. Again, be realistic. (You can get in a pretty bad place.) It might even just being stagnant.
Now you have a hell to run away from. That’s the wind behind your back. And you have the heaven you want pulling you forward. You can practice switching between these motivations when necessary.
Because you can’t run all the time, you’re going to arrive at either of these destinations with small steps every day.
You’ll get to a destination over time. Quick formula: number of steps forward each day x number of days.
You can’t do anything to change the number of days. They’re going to come. And because of how time works that number will become very large. Let’s take 3 years. You’re now at over 1000 days.
You have a lot of control over the small steps every day. Make your bed. Greet your partner when they come home. Call your parents. Take care of your body.
Do the little things right over a very very long time.