Contemplation...

As I write this post, I've got no agenda. To be honest, I didn't even think about writing this post more than 5 minutes ago.

Let's talk about... Habits!

Habit forming for me is challenging, it always has been. Whenever I start a task, completing it is always an uphill struggle.

I've been looking for ways to become more consistent and intentional with my time for many years now. If you're like me, you've tried multiple methods, apps, websites and courses, all leaving you more deflated than when you first began.

"Morning Routines" was a big one for me. For so long, I've tried to get myself into a morning routine, as social media is full of influencers who are sipping ginseng and taking ice cold baths at 5AM and that must mean that's what defines success, right?

20 months ago, my son was born. Having your first child has a profound impact on every single aspect of your life. That little human being changes your world and what you prioritise within it. For as long as I remember, salary was the single measure of someone's success in life for me. High salaries were something I aspired to have. Not necessarily to buy nice things, but simply as a badge of honour, to prove to others that I was worth something.

20 months into parenthood has taught me a lot about what really matters in life. Your child doesn't care if you sip ginseng and take ice baths at 5AM (I don't know any parents who realistically do anything at 5AM other than blindly tend to their children, or get up for work weary eyed). They also don't care about the size of your paycheck. They care about love and affection and the warmth you show to them every single day. They care about you being there when they need you, not about the brand of clothes you buy them or the amount of toys you give to them.

This made me realise I'm far richer than I ever thought possible in areas of my life that actually matter. Am I still striving for a bigger income? Yes. Is it the most important thing to me anymore? Absolutely not. I will keep accruing knowledge and applying this to develop skills which in turn should lead to opportunities for me to increase my monetary worth in the workplace. But that will happen organically now, as I'm not chasing it. What matters to me right now, is maximising time I have with my family and work is second to that.

Coming back to habits... parenthood to a newborn is an intensive crash course into habit forming. You learn quickly to prepare to the unexpected, otherwise you get caught short in a shopping centre without baby wipes and your child has just created a bioweapon in their nappy!

So what I would say is, if you are measuring your self worth based on what others think about you, make sure the "others" are people who really matter, like your children, or closest friends and family. The ones you truly love. As long as you can put a smile on their faces, no habit or amount of money will ever be able to replace that.

Speak soon,

Rory