I just returned from a quick trip to California, my friends, and devised this very simple plan on yesterday’s fight back home.
I’ve been flying out to California about once a month the past three or four months and I know exactly which plane route I like and now I’m even looking into signing up for a frequent flyer miles through Delta and I’m that many dorky years old. But that’s not the point (although it does feel like a win).
Last Tuesday in Salt Lake City, on my way to Orange County, I bought Jon Acuff’s new book, “Soundtracks.” Having heard him talk about it with Corinne Crabtree on her podcast and already having purchased his book, “Finish,” I knew I wanted it, and then there it was, and I bought it.
Fast forward to yesterday morning in the John Wayne Airport terminal with my Starbucks coffee and 90 minutes on my hands, reading the book, I came to the “New Anthem” script and study. His research showed that test subjects who practiced the new anthem at least 20 or more times in a 30 day period exhibited fewer stall outs, more productivity and more enjoyment around their work.
By the time I was in Salt Lake again, yesterday, I was like- “Hang on. I could do that. And also, I could do a blog post every day about doing the New Anthem self-talk experiment to monitor my progress.”
So it’s Sunday morning in Nebraska, May 30, 2021 and it’s Day One of getting out of my own way.
In his book, Acuff suggests an “Anthem” that is to be spoken out loud to oneself in a bathroom mirror every morning and then, again, at bed time. I’m doing it. My goal is to practice 30 days of his suggested practice, write about my thoughts right here in my trusty blog-o , and notice how my thoughts and attitudes toward my present goals shift toward a lighter, more actionable state of mind.
Just so you know, my present goals are: continuing a fun, successful, motivated weight loss, continue my weekly songwriting practice, develop a long-term plan for my podcast work, grow my coaching practice and client list and have a bitchin’ summer. Added bonus will include touring the world and elsewhere as a rock ‘n roll superstar.
Get the book, “Soundtracks.” It’s great, easily understood and points to a self-talk practice that really does change life for the better. I’ve been working in that realm for some time now and have benefitted immensely in ways I could not have imagined possible. And guess what. “The only person standing in my way is me, and I quit doing that yesterday.” High five.