You have probably heard it said by someone wanting you to repeat a monotonous activity that "practice makes perfect." As many times as you and I may have heard this, it is quite simply not true. Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes consistent.
If you practice something at a high level of performance, it will reinforce that same level of performance. On the other hand, if you practice an activity over and over in a substandard manner, you will do little more than reinforce this substandard level of performance.
You have probably dealt with people or organizations that consistently perform at an unprofessional, impolite, and substandard level. Like me, you probably wonder: How did things ever get so bad in this organization? The answer is simply that mediocrity has been going on for so long, and reinforced so deeply, that it now seems normal.
Human beings always seek their own level of comfort. You have probably heard about prisoners who are finally released after spending many years behind bars. Then, more often than you would think, these individuals will go out and do something stupid, get caught, and get sent right back to prison. After years of counseling within the prison system, psychologists have determined that some inmates become so accustomed to living within prison walls, that it becomes their comfort zone and, on a subconscious level, they prefer it to life in society with you and me.
So much of what we do in our personal and professional lives is done out of habit. If you will consider your morning routine as you get ready to go to work, you will realize that dozens of things happen in a mindless habitual fashion. This is a powerful tool if you use it wisely, because we can control our habits if we will simply become proactive and choose our own course of action.
Anything we do for 21 days will begin to become a habit. This means that, on the 22nd day, something will seem strange or out of place if you do not follow the routine you have established.Excellence can become a habit. Chaos can become a habit. And mediocrity can become a habit. The process is inert. It does not care at what level you perform. Our minds simply want to reproduce that with which we are familiar.
As you go through your day today, remember: You are currently a product of yesterday's habits; but take heart, because tomorrow will be a product of the habits you form now.
Book Reviews
This book takes all the piece parts from all the diciplines-psychological, physical, and spiritual-and puts it together in a well organized program. Brooke doesn't just focus on diet, exercise, or emotional eating issues, but rather creates a integrated system, which can be applied to many life challenges. If you have finally come to realize that conquering a weight problem is not a simple or easy task, then this book will give you a concrete method to get your weight under control.
In The Thin Commandments Diet, Dr. Stephen Gullo lets you in on his unique weight-loss program that has a success rate that is many times higher than the national average and has helped patients lose more than 100 pounds -- and maintain that weight loss for more than 5 years. His two-part approach replaces willpower with strategy and deprivation dining with great-tasting gourmet fare.
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Based on the Law of Attraction, the overall premise of The Secret is simple: You can get what you truly feel about. It’s not just thinking about something; you need to envision the results exactly as you would like them to be—and then watch them happen. In this full-color companion to The Secret DVD, Rhonda Byrne discusses its role in the work of some of our most successful teachers including Neale Donald Walsch, Dr. Fred Alan Wolf, Jack Canfield, Dr. John Gray, and Michael Bernard Beckwith. All of them share stories of success ranging from eradicating disease and overcoming obstacles to acquiring wealth and achieving what most would consider the impossible. THE SECRET and The Secret logo are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to TS Production Limited Liability Company.