"I'm going to try to..."_
We've all uttered this statement in one form or another. It's a way of making ourselves feel good as well as the person we're talking with; an acknowledgement that you know there's an issue that needs fixing, and that you'll put effort into changing it. Everyone's happy, right?
Wrong.
I believe this is one of the worst lies we tell ourselves and others. The majority of the time, it's nothing more than lip service, with the goal being to put the receiving party at ease for the time being. More often than not, this shows itself in the form of our self-talk: telling ourselves we'll eat healthier, be more mindful about a complain our partner has with our actions, or simply cleaning our spaces more frequently.
I'm as guilty of this as anyone on the planet. I can't tell you how many times I've said this to myself and others, knowing deep down I probably wouldn't put in nearly the amount of effort that I could and should.
However, I've recently been playing with a solution which has has a surprising effect on my actions,
Instead of saying "I'm going to try", simply switch it to "I will".
"I will clean the dishwasher more often">"I'm going to try to clean the dishwasher more often." "I will find time to workout tomorrow">"I'm going to try to workout tomorrow." "I will buy less processed food when I grocery shop>"I'm going to try and eat healthier."
In my experience, saying this to others is a great way to firmly cement what you say to your future actions. We're only as good as our word, and you don't want to be the person known for going directly against something you explicitly stated (even if the only person who knew was you). I would call out a friend far quicker if they directly said they would do something and didn't versus them saying they would try and work on it. The change is subtle, but the language and the invisible contract it creates are anything but.
I would highly recommend that you try this our for a few days, whether it's with other people or yourself. I think you'll find the difference to be impressive; especially in how people react when you confidently state that you will do something in the future. You wouldn't lie to your friends about important issues. But what's more important than your character as a whole? Don't just try. Do.
"A Single Seed" is my attempt to get out one idea every day that I've learned or accumulated over the years, with the hope that it may stick in someone else's memory bank as well. The idea may be related to fitness, business, life, or philosophy, but I think you'll find that many can change domains if you wish them to. With each seed planted, a new life awaits.
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