The main reason why people fail to implement positive changes in their lives is because they want to do too much.

Their approach is the opposite of what the concept of effortless self-discipline is about.

I want you to get unstuck once and for all. And there’s only ONE way this is going to happen:

You pick a SINGLE goal for this course and commit ONLY to that one change.

I don’t want you to have a goal for each area of your life. I don’t want you to simultaneously quit three bad habits, form five new positive ones, implement a morning routine, and plan out your life for ten years in advance.

This isn’t this type of a course. I’ll take you from A to B to C to D and so on, until we complete our 30-day journey with you equipped to repeat the process for any other goal in the future.

Of course, the goal we’re about to tackle will consist of multiple adjustments. But one thing I can promise you is that you won’t end this course trying to juggle fifty things at once.

Your task

Your task today is to identify your SINGLE goal that you’ll commit to for the next 30 days.

For now, just identify it: there’s no need to take action already.

Here are some pointers on how to pick this goal:

1. It doesn’t have to be a huge goal that you’ll complete within 30 days. It can be a smaller goal that will get you closer to a bigger multi-month or multi-year goal.
2. The goal is defined by the work you put in every day and not the end result (which isn’t always within your control).
3. It’s a simple, easy to define goal that you can reliably work on every day with a clearly defined action to take.

Examples

Here are some examples, each addressing each of the points above:

Example 1

Over the next 30 days, I’ll commit to eating more slowly. I’ll set a timer to eat slowly for at least 20 minutes. I’ll eat each meal completely focused on the food. I won’t distract myself with a book, smartphone or TV.

1. The goal is a part of a larger goal to lose weight. Changing the relationship with food is an excellent first phase of this transition.
2. The goal is defined by what is done every day and not the amount of weight lost (which is too unpredictable).
3. The goal is clearly defined with a specific action to take every day. No guesswork involved.

Example 2

Over the next 30 days, I’ll spend at least one hour a day applying to jobs online to advance my freelancing career. I’ll focus on crafting personalized, customer-focused proposals over bulk sending generic applications.

1. The goal is a part of a larger goal to transition from a day job to a freelancing job.
2. The goal is defined by the amount of time put in daily into applying to new jobs.
3. The goal relies on one, clearly defined task: sending well-crafted, personalized proposals.

Example 3

Over the next 30 days, I’ll walk 5 miles every day. I don’t have to walk the entire distance in one go: I can break it up into two or three walks.

1. The goal is a part of a larger goal to get more active and exercise more. Since walking is a low impact activity, it’s a perfect segue into a more intense workout routine later on.
2. The goal is defined by a specific distance to be walked every day.
3. The goal relies on one activity: walking. It’s not a nebulous “I’ll move more.”

Feel free to share your goal in the comments below for accountability.