Never vs. Sometimes
very different implications
Sometimes it’s easier to abstain than it is to limit. It’s easier to do it every day than every other day.
“…with some things less effort of will is required to cut them out altogether than to have recourse to them in moderation” (Seneca’s Letters to Lucilius CVIII)
When I plan 60 minutes of exercise every single day, I’m much more consistent than when I take even one day off per week. And don’t even get me started on 3 times per week… I’ll barely get it done.
I think this speaks to a bigger idea that we discussed last month while reading Clear Thinking - engineering your environment to reduce temptations.
If I don’t do it everyday, then I can always push it off to tomorrow. I allow space for excuses. I allow myself to be tempted to avoid my new habit when it’s uncomfortable.
If I never drink, it’s easy to avoid all temptations. If I say I only drink sometimes, I allow the right temptations to sway me.
The idea of slowly easing into something new is enticing and sounds good. Sometimes it works. But when it doesn’t…
Make things simple. No more ‘sometimes’. More “Never” or “Always”
Question of The Day
What could you limit in your life to make a big breakthrough?
Your Friend,
Noah “BigNerd” Sochaczevski