How to Succeed In Life… Without The Bruises!
In our effort to become better people, we sometimes push too hard—and it backfires. (Remember the Tortoise and the Hare?)
Here are a few tips for success the easy way…
Strategy 1: Take Advantage of Your Built-In “Autopilot”
A habit is an action or series of actions performed subconsciously. We don’t have to think about doing them—they just happen automatically.
We all run on autopilot.
Have you ever driven home or to work, then realized you barely remember the ride? Or taken the wrong exit on the freeway because it’s the one you usually take? That’s your brain following well-worn neural paths—it’s been trained by repetition.
This can be a good thing.
Why? Because it makes much of life effortless. Imagine having to focus intently on every small task—washing dishes, brushing your teeth, taking out the garbage. Without autopilot, we’d be exhausted.
The key is to make sure your autopilot is running the RIGHT programs. Adding good habits to your “automatic” list is how you get more done with less effort.
Strategy 2: Use Your Natural Rhythm
How long does it take to establish a new habit? Opinions vary—from 21 to 30 days—but since most of us live in monthly cycles, a good rule of thumb is 30 days to make a habit stick.
Add one new habit a month, and in a year, you’ll transform your life.
Strategy 3: Create “Emotional Buy-In”
No matter what goal you set, you won’t succeed unless you buy in—mentally and emotionally. To do that, you need to “do the math.”
Ask yourself:
- “What will happen if I continue as I am?”
- “What benefits will I gain if I succeed?”
- “What will it cost me to change?”
The process itself makes you more self-aware. Even if the answers aren’t obvious, they’re worth seeking out. You’ll gain clarity—and motivation—just by exploring the questions.
Keys to Buying In:
- Find a Trigger Word (or Phrase)
- Pick a short word or phrase that captures your motivation—something you can repeat when you need an extra push.
- For example, instead of saying, “I’ll be organized and focused,” try a quick trigger like “clarity” or “focus.” (Short words bypass subconscious resistance and keep you moving forward.)
Enlist Outside Support
Write your goal down and post it somewhere visible—your mirror, desk, or fridge. Tell your friends or family. Public commitment creates accountability.
Take it a day at a time.
Lifetime commitments are intimidating. Instead of saying, “I’ll walk an hour a day forever,” say, “I’ll walk ten minutes a day for the next week.”
If you like it, extend it another week—and maybe bump it up to fifteen minutes. Small wins stack up fast.
Strategy 4: Use the “3×10” Exercise Method
We’ve all used the excuse: “I’m too busy to exercise!” Finding a solid 30 minutes can be tough. But research from Stanford University shows that three 10-minute workouts—morning, lunch, and evening—can produce the same benefits as one continuous 30-minute session.
Both groups saw similar gains in oxygen uptake, heart rate, and weight loss. In fact, the 3×10 group may even have had an edge: each mini-workout created an additional post-exercise “cool-down” period where metabolism stayed elevated. (Source: The American Journal of Cardiology, 1990.)
Strategy 5: When you fall down, get back up.
Let’s face it—life happens. Even the strongest commitment will get derailed sometimes. And that’s okay. What matters most isn’t perfection; it’s pattern.
If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on track tomorrow.
After all, tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.
