The Routine Building Handbook by Ashley Brown

Author:Ashley Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ulysses Press
Published: 2022-01-25T00:00:00+00:00

Part 3 PROTECT YOUR PEACE

(Maintaining Routines)

Chapter 7 RECOGNIZE YOUR RESISTANCE

Let’s be real, maintaining a routine isn’t the easiest thing in the world. I’ve learned a major key to success is in managing your expectations. Once a routine starts, we tend to expect a lot from ourselves, and when we don’t meet those expectations, this often leads to feelings of failure and a lack of self-trust. Holding onto these unwanted and untruthful feelings will not help us when it comes to maintaining our routines. Instead of having the expectation that your routine will go perfectly, it can be helpful to expect that you will simply try again if it doesn’t.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve started and abandoned many routines in your life. This experience can lead some people to think it is impossible to maintain routines. However, in my opinion, this isn’t the truth. Keeping a routine going may not be easy, but the strategies and principles taught in this handbook will make the process much simpler.

In workshops I host, I teach women how to create and maintain routines. During these workshops, I always ask the women to explain what prompted them to attend. I remember one workshop in particular, when an attendee answered with, “I’m not routine-oriented, but I know I need a routine for my family so we can have more order around here.” This is an answer I’ve heard more times than I can count. Each time I hear this, I can almost guarantee why this woman has struggled to maintain routines in her life: Her perspective is not in alignment with her desired outcome. The belief that she is “not a routine person” creates resistance and malalignment, although she wants to use routines to help.

For routines to work, you must believe you are capable of maintaining them. Remove the roadblock that says routines are only for type A people who love buying the latest planner. This is a total myth, and holding onto this belief is hurting your potential success. If you relate to this point of view and you doubt that routines can work because you’ve had many failed attempts, I invite you to look at your missteps through a different lens.

In my experience, what you see as failure is actually a sign of malalignment with your natural rhythm. Introducing a routine into your life should run parallel with who you are. Routines can be maintained by anyone and everyone, including yourself. Take pride in this and begin to believe routines can positively impact your life in a way that works for you and with you.

Here’s an affirmation to help: “I am naturally flowing in routine.”

Now I invite you to do a personal reflection. If you struggle with the belief that you are inconsistent, it can be helpful to take note of the ways you are already consistent with your routines. Think about what patterns you have been able to maintain daily and weekly. I’ll bet you’re more consistent than you think.

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