I started my day today worrying about hitting my goals. Am I doing enough activity to get the job done? Can I do more? Should I do more? These things are running through my head and attempting to put me into a mental spiral.
One thing I often share with clients is, “You can’t always control the outcome – but you can control your activity.” And it’s true. So, I have to remind myself the same thing. One of my favorite quotes is from Art Williams, “All you can do is all you can do. But all you can do is enough.” Simple, but true.
I can’t do more than I am able to do. I just need to focus on doing what I can do and trust that will be enough. It’s hard to do when you want results – quickly. And I, like most entrepreneurs, also want results quickly.
The thing is, what is “enough”? It’s not about the number of tasks completed or even the hours put in. It’s about the tasks themselves.
Example:
If I want to lose 100 lbs in a year, I need to lose 2 lbs a week on average. To lose 2 lbs a week on average, I need to burn 7,000 more calories than I consume. That means there are a few things I can do.
- I can cut 1,000 calories from my diet each day (not advisable)
- I can cut back on my calories and exercise to create a calorie deficit
So, the “tasks” I have to complete are:
- Meal Prep To Track My Caloric Intake
- Daily Cardio
- Daily Weight Lifting
The key point here is the “tasks” must align with the intended goal. Why is this important? This is important because aligning tasks with goals ensures that every action taken is purposeful and directly contributes to achieving the desired outcome. It’s not just about being busy; it’s about being effective. By focusing on specific tasks that are directly linked to the goal, it becomes easier to measure progress, stay motivated, and make adjustments as needed.
The lesson in this for me today is that I can let go of the worry and doubt because I know the activities (aka “tasks”) I am completing each day are directly propelling me toward my goals. This gives me a sense of clarity and relief. It means that as long as I am consistent with these tasks, I am indeed doing enough. THIS IS HUGE!!!
This also teaches me the importance of focusing on the process, not just the end result. Success is not a sudden leap but a series of small, consistent steps. Each task, no matter how small, is a building block towards the bigger picture. In my case, every meal I prep, every cardio session, and every weightlifting exercise is a step towards my weight loss goal. It’s these small, daily actions that accumulate over time to bring about significant change.
So here’s what I’m going to do:
- Trust and be patient with the process.
- Stay committed to completing my tasks.
- And understand that ‘enough’ is not a measure of quantity but a measure of alignment with my goals. I know that as long as I am true to my tasks and consistent in my efforts, I am doing enough, and that is all I can ask of myself.
