This is part two of a two-part series. Find part one here.

Seven Common Ways to Break Patterns

1) Think Smaller

You may be at the bottom of the massive mountain, staring at the top of it, instead of looking at your feet, determined to take one step at a time. “It”, whatever “it” is, is quite possibly too large of a thing to be done in one sitting, and so you are experiencing the “why bother” or the “I’ll do it tomorrow” syndrome. If “it” can’t possibly be done in one day, then break it down into something more digestible. Something smaller. Something that does not max out your attention span. For example, what is something that you can do in 30 minutes or less that would make you feel like you are moving one step closer to “it”?

2) One Thing at a Time

Just focus on putting one foot in front of the other; one step at a time. Each morning when you wake up, ask yourself, “What is one thing that I can do today that will allow me to move one step closer to completing ‘it’?” And then do that thing. Remember – 30 minutes or less, or sh*t, even 15 minutes if that means that is your maxed-out attention span. You can develop and strengthen your attention span like you can a muscle in the body. So, if your span is short now, over time, you can increase it to 20 mins, then 25, 30, etc. Don’t limit yourself to a locked-in identity. That will just keep you in the exact same place you are now, with the exact same patterns, and the exact same undesired results.