254 Cease Your "Three-Day Priest" Mentality

The Japanese saying "mikka bozu," or "three-day priest," perfectly captures the common experience of initial enthusiasm quickly fading. People sign up for the priesthood, find it tough and promptly give up. We often begin new endeavours with resolute resolve, but daily challenges diminish our commitment. If you feel yourself teetering on the brink, don't be discouraged. Instead, reassess your goals and focus on what's achievable to build momentum.

It's easy to fall into an all-or-nothing mindset with resolutions, leading to complete collapse and abandonment when reality sets in. We should adopt a more realistic approach by breaking down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps with clear milestones.

Prioritize achievable goals to create early wins, as success often fuels further success. Avoid being swayed by the ambitions of others and concentrate on your own pace and methods.

Focus on the fundamentals, the "blocking and tackling" of your field. Take ten minutes to identify and prioritize the basics of your work. This simple exercise can provide a practical roadmap for progress.

Don't give in to the "three-day priest" mentality. We can recover from setbacks by regrouping, recalibrating, and recommitting to our starting point. Remember, as Yogi Berra said, "it ain't over till it's over"