I was going through a difficult time, crisis of identity and purpose in 2017. I hated my job and was trying to figure out what to do with my life. After trying many things, I realized that the only way for me to change my life is to change what I do regularly! I needed to focus on my habits.
I noticed that while my brain was sharpest in the morning, I would wake up, make espresso, and waste my most productive time reading news and social media. I needed a new habit. I wanted to use my mornings to reflect, think, plan, and accomplish tasks.
After several failed attempts to change my behavior, I did some research and learned what I needed to do: focus on one habit at a time, replace an old habit with a new one, and attach the new habit to an existing positive one. I decided to replace reading news with reflective journaling, triggered by making my espresso (my existing positive habit). To make it easier, each night I would set up my environment: placing my espresso cup by the machine, raising my standing desk, cleaning my workspace, and leaving my laptop open.
Whenever I missed a few days of journaling, I simply got back to it. After a five weeks, it became second nature! That year, I journaled about 80% of mornings, spending anywhere from 2 to 20 minutes. Through journaling, I discovered other habits that weren't serving me well and needed changing. I started meditating, exercising, and preparing differently for meetings. I even developed the idea for my business—ChangeLab—and found clarity about my life's direction.
That one small habit became the cornerstone of a new me! It's amazing how a simple, habitual behavior can compound day after day until it transforms your life!
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A cornerstone habit is a key behavior that naturally influences and encourages other positive habits to form, acting as a foundation for broader personal change. By adopting one habit that has a ripple effect—such as regular exercise, mindful eating, or consistent journaling—you begin to see improvements and motivation in related areas of life. Over time, this single practice becomes a catalyst for a healthier, more productive lifestyle overall.
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