There are three powerful words that will improve any part of your life if you live by them. In fact, if you don’t live by them, there is virtually no chance that you will maintain any improvements that you do make. You will just slide back to your starting point, or maybe even become a little worse. What are the three words that are so powerful?
Raise. Your. Standards.
What is a standard? It is pretty simple. It is just something that is acceptable to you.
Are you overweight? Then it is because being overweight is acceptable to you. If it was truly unacceptable to you, then you would do whatever it takes to get rid of the excess weight.
Many people absolutely will not use illegal drugs. Why not? It is because they have a standard that it is unacceptable to them. They might have different reasons, but they strongly believe it is unacceptable.
Musts vs. Shoulds
What are your standards? Your standards include anything that is a “must” or “must not.” If you must exercise at least three times a week, then it is a standard. If you should exercise at least three times a week, then this isn’t a standard. If you are almost never exercising even though you feel that you should, then your standard is probably “I must exercise at least zero times a week.”
Your behavior absolutely reflects your standards. If you raise your standard to exercising a minimum of three times a week, then you will immediately begin to exercise 3 times a week because it is a must. If it is only a should, then you might exercise 3 times a week sometimes, but it probably won’t be very consistent.
On March 4, 2012, I raised my standard for exercise. That was when I committed to exercising every single day. It is a must for me, and my behavior consistently reflects this new higher standard.
Your Homeostatic Mechanism
Our bodies and our minds have mechanisms that try to maintain homeostasis. In other words, we try to maintain a sense of stability or equilibrium. Your “comfort zone” is part of this homeostatic mechanism that returns you to your “set point.”
This is the danger of NOT raising your standards. If you try to improve something but haven’t raised your standards, then you will probably just go right back to where you started. If you diet and exercise to get a lean, strong body, but you haven’t made this your new higher standard, you aren’t likely to maintain your progress.
Your life is a perfect reflection of your standards.
Every aspect of your life is determined by your standards.
Ask yourself what your standards are in the following areas:
- Are you fit or out of shape?
- Is your home a mess or is it spotless?
- Do you live below your means or do you live paycheck to paycheck?
- Do you treat people harshly or are you kind and patient?
The list goes on and on.
Begin to pay attention to your standards, and then raise the bar on what you demand of yourself. If you raise your standards, you will definitely become Better. Stronger. Faster.
