1: Non-Negotiable

Today I have decided to do a blog every day for 30 days.

After listening to several nerdy podcasts detailing the importance of consistency and actively ensuring you don’t wake up every day negotiating with yourself, because you always lose, I have made this decision. I am not seeking any specific result with this blog. I have no hope or aspiration or dream of adoration or applause for this blog.

It simply is because I decided.

My father used to always say, “that’s final” or “because I said so” when me or one of my brothers would attempt to argue with him. This applies here.

Because that’s final.

Finalize something with yourself. Do we ever make things final with ourselves?Make it concrete. “That’s non-negotiable,” my dad would say to me. Even when I was 9 years old I was learning business verbiage.

As you get older, you realize, you can never win when you negotiate with yourself. You cannot lie to yourself. However, you can trick yourself. Justifying excuses is so easy in our internal dialogue. I can think of a million reasons NOT to write a blog. A million reasons to hit snooze on the alarm. The minute we engage with this inner salesman, we are doomed.

Despite the childish anecdote, I really do believe in this method.

Also, I think doing something is a lot easier when you’re doing it to do it, not because it will turn into a pot of gold one day. I think a lot of times people get hung up on results and “what’s the point” and “what if they don’t like it.” But really, when we do that, what that really means is we’re relinquishing power, our power, to the outside world. We’re already relatively powerless sensitive creatures! To so easily give up further control over our emotions and feelings and sense of self seems and directional choices, to outside beings and results feels a lot like a counter intuitive way to maneuver through life.

I remember there’s some teenage quote or adage that used to go around. Maybe it was a lyric from a Fall Out Boy song (I googled it and it was Kid Cudi). I’m not sure. In the end they’ll judge me anyway, so whatever.

It really should read, in the end they’ll judge me anyway and then forget about me shortly after and move on with their daily malaise and issues.

So, here I am writing a blog that I am unsure anyone will care about. If you are reading this, then thank you. I appreciate you! A lot!

What concrete non-negotiable promise can you make to yourself?

See you tomorrow.

Things I am Grateful For Today on Friday November 6th:

·       McDonald’s Ice Coffee

·       My friends putting out music on Friday’s

·       The sky being blue

·       Living in Canada

·       Constant movement and opportunities