Three Daily Wins

“Remember you don’t meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things.”

-Ajahn Chah

When it comes to taking care of yourself, the sooner you spot this pattern, the better.

When your mood and state are low, you are less likely to do the things you know you need to do.

This isn't anything earth-shattering; you already know that.

However, here is something interesting to consider: When your mood is equanimous and your state is energized, you are more likely to do more of the things that promote health and strength.

This dynamic is known as the hedonic flexibility principle.

So, the question is this: How do I get myself in a state where doing healthy things feels easier?

Focus on the approach.

Here's what I mean: There is no end to taking care of yourself until it's over. So, stop looking for a magical destination where paying attention to your health is no longer a concern. For as long as you're breathing, your body and mind will remind you that it's not wise to neglect them.

This is not a foreign skill; you already do it in other ways.

You don't charge your phone once and expect it to function without charging it again.

You don't fill your car up with gas once and think that you'll never revisit a gas station.

You don't take one shower and assume that it will keep you clean forever.

You don't wake up early to get the kids ready for school once, and then leave it to chance whether they get to school or not thereafter.

The point is this: Your health (physical and mental) is a process that demands practice.

Now, to make this practice feel easier so that it perpetuates further into the future, you need three daily wins: a physical win, a mastery win, and a mental win.

A physical win is grounded in movement and breath. There are so many ways to do this; don't be swindled into thinking there is only one way.

A mastery win can be bifurcated; a win at work and/or school, or it can be challenged into a deep interest of yours. Extra credit if you do both regularly.

A mental win is marked by training mental skills in your daily life. The passive form is meditation or prayer. The applied form is embodying your meditation or prayer during your time at work and at home.

It's your privilege to find protocols within these three buckets (physical, mastery, and mental) that work best for you. Once you find the protocol that suits you, embed it as "ways of life" instead of "tasks to complete."

Once you do this, you are on the path. If you veer, just come back.