Today, I want you to conduct an honest inventory of how you’re utilizing Daily Shoring.
Below are the tips from the last 10 days–look them over and ask yourself, “Did I actually accomplish a concrete task related to that day’s suggestion?”
Learn About Someone You Admire
If you’re on track, that’s great! Your Daily Shoring assignment for today is to read this post on Finding “Flow” and How it Contributes to Happiness.
If there are days you haven’t actually completed a task (I assume you’re at least reading the tips on a daily basis!), let’s look at common pitfalls:
- “Seems easy–I’ll do it later.” Fine, if you make a habit of following through on things. If things fall through the cracks, then build a habit of reading Daily Shoring at the same time each day and completing something right then. You can always go back later and repeat a more challenging version of the suggestion, but don’t get sidetracked by the self-defeating ambition/procrastination combination.
- “I don’t see how this will help.” Okay, but do it anyway. There’s no downside here and second guessing just keeps you stuck.
- “I’m too busy.” These tasks take so little time (the easy versions) that they almost take no time at all! Some tips are really just thinking–take “Target One Bad Habit” and let’s say you decided to avoid overeating at dinner. You think and change a behavior, but it actually takes no time from your day! Just do it!
- “I’m too depressed; I have no motivation.” I know depression can be so bad that it’s debilitating. But that’s one of the purposes of this blog–when you’re so depressed that you can barely function, you need to do at least one positive thing each day (and it doesn’t require a lot of time or sustained effort–see above!). Most people have heard of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy–one of the most researched and effective psychotherapy methods for depression. The cognitive part has to do with changing maladaptive thought patterns (if you want to know more, read The Feeling Good Handbook by David Burns). The behavior part is up to you (along with your therapist, if you have one). This is where most people struggle, but it’s a vital component. You have to act the way you would act if you were not depressed in order to help yourself become un-depressed! I admit, it’s more complicated and nuanced than that, but for the purposes of a blog, that’s the best way I can put it.
Strategize how to best move forward and start today by repeating at least one Daily Shoring tip!
