Ever notice how some people get blindsided by Christmas every single year?
I mean...every year. The stressful planning. The financial strains of buying gifts. Figuring out when, what, and how Christmas dinner will be prepared.
(If you don't celebrate Christmas, please replace "Christmas" with the December holiday of your choice...I just thought it would be awkward to write "non-specific holiday dinner.")
But, when you think about it. Christmas happens the same day every year. They don't move it.
So why not plan for the obstacles and challenges ahead of time? We often forget that's an option.
Same thing with practicing an instrument. An inevitable obstacle is going to be feeling too busy to make the time to practice. So, what will you do when that happens?
Same thing when you're following a diet and workout routine. You know there will be a day when Ben and Jerry's looks (or is it "look?") pretty darn attractive. What will you do when that happens?
When we don't plan ahead for them, we're blindsided and derailed by obstacles. The good news is, obstacles are predictable. And we can plan what we'll do before they arise.
And when we know what we'll do ahead of time, we're less likely to allow auto-pilot to take over.
Plan an obstacle you'll probably face today. What will you do? Come back and let us know what happens.