Keep Moving Forward

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know I frequently post the following questions:

Imagine how much better you could be—leaner and more muscular, more successful in your work and relationships, more knowledgeable and/or skilled—by this time next year if you commit right now to doing at least one small thing to improve yourself every day, and imagine how much happier you would be as a result.

This one small thing could be as simple as making a better dietary choice, choosing not to indulge an unhealthy or counterproductive habit, getting to bed earlier, reading or listening to an informative book, podcast, or lecture, or spending a few minutes learning or practicing a useful skill.

Also imagine how much good you could do by helping others to make the same commitment to do something daily to improve themselves, and by using your unique knowledge and skills to help them do so.

For many, keeping a self-improvement journal is an effective way to get started, keep moving forward, and to evaluate what does and doesn’t work for you.

Do this right now:

• Buy yourself a journal with enough pages for a full year, and few pens or mechanical pencils to keep with it.
• Buy yourself a wall or desktop calendar for the current and next year and place it where you will see it daily.
• On the cover write “What will I do to improve myself today? What will I do to help others improve?” and the current year. You could also write something that reminds or motivates you to work on improving yourself daily, like “Keep Moving Forward” or a favorite motivational quote.
• On the top of the first three pages write the three things you like most about yourself or your life right now.
• On the top of the second three pages write the three things you like least about yourself or your life right now.
• On the top of the third three pages write three things you want to learn and/or become skilled at over the next year.
• Under each of these, list as many things you can do daily to improve these that you can think of, to help you get started.

Then, do this:

• At the start of every day, at the top of a new page write the current date, one or two things you will do to improve yourself, and one or two things you will do to help others improve.
• When you complete both of these, place a check mark next to them in your journal, and a check mark on the current date on your calendar. This will help motivate you to be consistent.
• At the end of every day, write yourself a short note about what you did, how you’re progressing, and how you feel about it.
• After one year, re-read the first nine pages, review and write an assessment of your progress, get a new journal, and repeat.

Alternatively, if you have consistent access to the internet you can use a blog in place of a physical journal. If you have friends doing this, plan to meet regularly, either locally or remotely by video conference, to compare notes, help, and encourage each other.

If you do this consistently you will be amazed at how much you will improve and how much happier you’ll be in just one year! Please bookmark this page and return regularly to comment and let me know how you are improving!