170128 Be, Do, Have

I really like who I am becoming in 2017. 

I have always heard that you Be, Do, Have. 

Set SMART goals for yourself... and I will just talk about two of the attributes from the below as I see them.  The goals should be measurable so you know when you have achieved them and should have a timeline.  You never achieve a goal you cannot measure.  Goals without a timeline are wishes. 

Most of the goals we have revolve around possessing things; let’s face it, having things is measurable.  Having things is also a way to measure ourselves against other people.  Things can be positions, or titles, or objects.  You know, all those nouns that are not people or places.  Some of our goals revolve around running faster or lifting more or walking longer. 

Conversely, most Americans also look to lose things as goals.  Especially around the first of a year, we are trying to lose pounds of fat!  Again, this is measurable and you can certainly assign a timeline to it.

Ok, back to Be, Do, Have…. 

If you want to have the thing that your goal revolves around, you need to be the person who would have those things.  Being the person means being disciplined, being responsible, being accountable, being faithful.  It means changing your habits to become a person that would achieve that goal.  These things that you be are not necessarily measurable or noticeable on the outside without the Do.

What you do is the fruit of what you be!  (To all those critiquing my grammar, I apologize…).  The apple a tree produces is evidence that it be an apple tree!  That you walk for 45 min every day is fruit of your discipline!  That you get to the gym and lift and sweat and cry and strain under increasing amounts of lead and steel is fruit of your persistence.  That you give to charity is fruit that you be generous. 

As you do, repeatedly, you develop habits.  Habits take you where you end up.  Habits are the reason you achieve or don’t achieve your goals. 

My bride and I have developed some healthy habits of eating cleaner, limiting our calories, exercising daily and drinking more water.  We weigh ourselves daily.  As you can see, I am writing about what we did.  We are disciplining ourselves to these habits. 

These are not obsessions.  We allow ourselves sweets now and again, and after we reach our goals, we will continue the above with the goal maintaining a healthy weight.  We are simply disciplining ourselves into a healthy lifestyle. 

As of today, these habits have us losing 35 pounds (combined) since Jan 1, 2017.  We plan on maintaining these habits for the rest of our lives.  I will let you know how it goes!

Semper Fi,

m