It has been everywhere.
I was bombarded with reminders to vote, selfies of those who voted (mine included), and endless talk about the voting process. It felt like I would be choosing between good and evil. But which one is good? The answer was different depending on who answered it.
This isn’t about America’s next president though. There’s enough coverage of that.
All the voting talk reminded me of the quote below. It’s something all of us can control…
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” -James Clear (Atomic Habits)
Our words. Our actions. Our decisions. Our thoughts. Every single one of them matters. And every single one of them is essentially casting a vote for who we are becoming.
Who do you want to become? Not merely what you want to accomplish — those things will come and go. But what’s the type of person you want to be? Now start voting for that person.
Baby steps. Small decisions. They all add up…
You want to be wise? Read good books.
You want to be a leader? Make someone else better.
You want to be an athlete? Start training your body.
You want to be an accomplished person? Discipline yourself today.
You want to be healthy? Eat real food.
You want to be spiritual? Spend time with God.
You want to be fulfilled? Go help someone.
You want to be a resilient person? Be willing to fail…and then get back up.
You want to be courageous? Face your fears.
Now do it again. And again. And again.
Most of us want to be all of the above. But it’s easier to want those things than it is to become those things. And mostly what stands in the way is one or two falls. Because when we fall short, we often question who we are and who we’re becoming. Discouragement is an easy find.
I love how James Clear further writes, “The good news is that you don’t need to be perfect. In any election, there are going to be votes for both sides. You don’t need a unanimous vote to win an election; you just need a majority.”
We’re not chasing perfection. We’re chasing better. And we have complete control in this race.
A great way of determining good vs. evil as we vote for our future self:
- If it satisfies today, then beware.
- If it benefits tomorrow, then act on it.
Vote for your future self. Then bet on you!
