Part 6: Your one thing for 2022 – Don’t underestimate the impact of one thing
Thank you for reading again this week as we wrap up this series on your one thing for 2022.
In case you’ve missed it or forgot, we been spending some time on the question: “What one thing, if you were to gain a handle on it, would make a meaningful difference to the quality of your life at the end of 2022?”
There is a (small) possibility that you can’t think of anything that needs any level of enhancement in your life. You might be completely put together and don’t see any room for improvement. If that is you, then there’s really no point in us spending any more time together. Congratulations and all the best on your journey forward.
There is however a better chance that you are like the rest of us: You struggle to identify one thing to focus on, not because you can’t think of it, but rather because you can easily think of seven (or 22) things that could be better about you. Welcome to the club. You are in exactly the right place and you are welcome here!
It is easy to underestimate the importance of one thing when there are so many potential areas of focus. What difference could one thing possibly make?
Shorty answer: Plenty!
Here is a short list of why you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of one thing:
- You can remember one thing. You can focus on one thing. Life get’s busy and distractions are numerous. Drawing your attention back to one thing is simpler than having to decide between a list of potential priorities.
- Change is hard and uncomfortable. Most of us suck at it. Until is gets easier. Trying to change many things at once is way more daunting (and requires more effort) than zeroing in on one well-defined are of focus.
- Traction breeds momentum. Once we start seeing progress in our one area of focus, we will gain confidence in knowing that change is possible. If we can do one thing, then we can do two. But don’t take your eye off the ball. Stick with your one thing until it becomes second nature or you feel like you have mastered it completely.
- Everything’s connected. Making a positive, healthy, well-adjusted change in one area of life inevitably leads to you making better decisions in other areas of life. Not convinced? Here’s an example: Let’s say you commit to taking a daily walk. You start of slow, missing a few days here and there, but get a streak of consecutive days going and feel good about it. You make a healthier meal choice, since you don’t want to ruin your progress. At the next braai you go for a low or no alcohol beer. Your friends notice and ask you about it. They get involved in your journey, join your walk and it strengthens your relationships. Maybe you start spending your money differently, since you now eat and drink different things or you smoke less. You get up earlier or cut down on your screen time to make time for your walk. Your sleep improves and you can do a better job at work. You feel better and start treating your partner or kids with a little more patience and warmth. They notice and treat you differently in return. You get fitter and your walk turns into a jog every now and again. All of a sudden everything feels different, you’re a slightly different (but better) person. Just because you started (and stuck with) walking. Just because of one thing.
If this seems far fetched, give it a try. You have no idea where the ripple effect will reach once you start changing one thing, in a positive way.
Thank you for reading and ending your week on a high. Next week we’ll jump into a new topic.
We would love to know how your progress is going – please let us know how your one thing for 2022 is going!
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
