Suppose you have several ideas for future intentions. You’re ready to begin a self-improvement project based on one of these ideas, but you’re not quite sure which of your possible intentions you should adopt first.
I have a confession. Although I’ve spent years helping people improve their ability to follow through, I’ve never found a way around this paradox: To follow through a lot, you have to be able to make yourself follow through just a little — just enough to take the first easy step. Sadly, I have yet to figure out how to make someone take that first easy step.
As a psychologist who’s spent decades helping people improve their ability to follow through, I’m often asked this question:
“Doc, if you could give people just one piece of advice, what would it be?”
My answer usually goes like this: “Take your intentions seriously.”