Hey Reader,
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I'm sure you're familiar with the idea that it takes about 21 days to change an existing habit or adopt a new one.
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Did you know that this is a popular misconception which dates back to 1960s? This "magic number" is used everywhere in the personal growth industry from authors to advice columns to life coaches.
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While 21 days has a nice ring to it: it’s short enough to feel motivational and long enough to sound realistic, it's purely a myth. You can check out this article to learn more about how this myth began.
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The truth is, habits are not easily broken. They are replaced by layering new behavior patterns on top of old ones over time.
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A good way to really understand how habits are formed is to break down how we learn in simple terms.
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This is best illustrated from this point I heard Denis Waitley repeatedly stress in a goal-setting seminar I participated in a few months back:

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Since many habits have been internalized for years, it’s misleading to assume that in 3 or 4 weeks of doing something new, we will override old patterns of behavior that are on auto-pilot.
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To form any new habit, including breaking destructive ones, Denis furthered "forget about the 30-day wonder-cures, the 60-day diet delights, and the get-fit, get-rich-quick fads."
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​Instead, allow simple principles to be your guide:

• Be patient with yourself (lasting change takes time).
• Show up every day (get your reps in and do the damn thing).
• Embrace and settle into the journey (forget the destination, focus on growth).

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Think in terms of small bite-sized steps that you can take every day even if it's just for 10-20 minutes.
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Imagine spreading that consistency over a year's time — what would your life look like? ​
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Remember habit change is about identity change, so avoid putting a hard timeframe on it.​
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​But if you do, give yourself about a year to truly internalize permanent change. After all, it took many years of observation, imitation, and repetition for you to pick up, and store your current habits.
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👉 If you need help with goal-setting, download my life visioning workbook.​

• ​James Clear's Random Tweetstorm - "Optimize for time before money. The most important question is, How do I want to spend my days? Make as few choices as possible that violate your answer."
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• ​Eight secrets to a (fairly) fulfilled life - My favorite from the eight: The solution to imposter syndrome is to see that you are one.
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  It's this point that the author makes that we should all keep in mind: "It’s that you – unconfident, self-conscious, all-too-aware-of-your-flaws – potentially have as much to contribute to your field, or the world, as anyone else."​
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• ​Eat the frog - Mark Twain famously said, "if it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first." ​
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  Your “frog” is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it. Take action on it immediately. ​
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• ​The Spirituality Of Forgiveness Training - Yesterday, I took part in a live forgiveness training (along with 5,000 other people) in which we went through a simple forgiveness visualization that trains your brain to access altered states. The research behind the effects that forgiveness has on the brain and body are insane, from heightened inspiration, boosting peak performance, balancing emotional capacity, and increasing immunity. You can check out the replay, which is available for the next day 3 days.
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• ​5-Day Meditation Challenge - Hay House is hosting a free meditation workshop from January 28 to February 1 — ideal for anyone who wants to start a meditation practice or if you want to enhance your current practice. Hay House's workshops are really informative and interactive — I am currently enrolled in their 7-day Writer's Workshop and it's been filled with tons of insights and ideas from authors and publishing experts.
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Thanks for reading.
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If you have any questions, feedback, or want to share some of your own insights, feel free to hit reply and let me know. I read and reply to every email.
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As Always, Keep Creating,

Anthony V. Lombardo

https://anthonyvlombardo.com
Download my Life Visioning Workbook
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