Ep 10: Do the Work
What does ‘Do the Work’ Mean?
Welcome back to my research on how to make the self-help industry less overwhelming.
Today we’re talking about the category that may be most important when trying to access the rest of them. Within this category you may find one of the hardest obstacles to get over when you start your journey.
Not only that but it’s so hard to adjust because it’s truly a lifestyle change. Sure, like other categories like Holistic Balance or Presence you are trying to physically shift your vibration but you can only keep those up through this category.
This is the Do The Work category. This is where you’ll find those really annoying Pinterest posts about “getting your life together using this spreadsheet” or “journaling everyday really changed my life and here’s how it can change yours”. Over it too?
Well not to sound JUST like them, but they aren’t totally wrong. It’s not about what spreadsheet or bullet journal technique you use, it’s about accountability and consistency. It’s about doing whatever it takes to keep you going when there’s no motivation.
According to Jim Kwik in Limitless, motivation is a lot more complicated than wanting to do something.
The equation for motivation is: Motivation = purpose x energy x small simple steps (S3). Ultimate state of motivation is flow
Small simple steps require small energy- minimal effort
Purpose drives us to act
In Chapter 9 - Small simple steps
Talks about Atomic Habits - cue, response, and reward
66 days for it to become a habit - it’s not about breaking it’s about replacing it
“It’s much easier to start doing something new than to stop doing something habitual without a replacement behavior”
-Elliot Berkman -
Most of what these authors, podcasters, whatever it is you read or listen to, you have to physically do the work. If they say “here’s a guided meditation,” do it. If they say “I’ve given you some prompts to try out for your next journaling session,” do it. Even if they say, “here’s your homework” (ew), do the dang homework.
When I say do the work, I mean you can’t expect to heal or grow if you aren’t actually in the trenches of your self-healing journey.
You can listen to all the podcasts and how to’s or read all of the books in the industry, but nothing will ever change unless you are actively making the changes presented to you.
How does Do the Work show up in the self-help industry?
The 4 components of Do The Work
Embarking on a self-healing journey requires dedicated effort and a commitment to personal growth. It involves actively engaging in the process of healing and transformation. Five key components of doing the work in a self-healing journey are habits, goals, consistency, accountability, and practice.
Habits are regular practice that is embedded into our daily lives. These are actions that make us who we are. They also help us build a foundation for stability and resilience when life seems to be a lot. They give us purpose and can help build consistency to reach our goals. Habits may be one of the biggest trigger words for the self help industry. Typically when you start evaluating your daily routines, the first thing you have to look at are your positive and negative habits to evaluate what may need to change.
Atomic Habits by James Clear is known for his work in small habit creation. He even just came out with an app called Atoms that helps you create habit stacking (also found in his book).
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems”
Setting goals provides a roadmap for your self-healing journey. Clearly defining what you want to achieve and the areas you want to address helps you stay focused and motivated. Goals serve as guideposts, giving you direction and purpose as you navigate through the healing process.
Consistency is vital in a self-healing journey. It involves committing to regular and persistent effort in your healing practices. Consistency builds momentum and allows for deeper integration of healing strategies into your daily life. By consistently dedicating time and energy to your healing journey, you create a solid foundation for lasting transformation.
Accountability plays a crucial role in self-healing. Being accountable means taking ownership of your actions, choices, and progress. Establishing accountability mechanisms, such as working with a therapist, joining support groups, or having an accountability partner, helps you stay committed and motivated. It provides a space for reflection, feedback, and support, empowering you to overcome challenges and maintain momentum.
Practice is the active application of healing techniques and strategies. It involves engaging in specific exercises, rituals, or therapies that support your healing journey. Regular practice allows you to cultivate new habits, develop self-awareness, and build resilience. Whether it's mindfulness, journaling, therapy sessions, or other healing modalities, consistent practice strengthens your capacity for self-reflection, healing, and growth.
In combination, goals, consistency, accountability, and practice create a powerful framework for doing the work in a self-healing journey. They provide structure, motivation, support, and active engagement in your healing process.
Remember, self-healing is a journey, and it requires effort and commitment.
By embracing these components, you empower yourself to embark on a transformative path toward wholeness, well-being, and self-discovery.
A Do the Work Exercise
Creating good habits and phasing out bad habits is an essential process for personal growth and positive change.
Here's a step-by-step approach to help you establish new, positive habits while gradually eliminating the old, undesirable ones:
Identify and understand your habits: Begin by reflecting on the habits you want to change. Recognize the negative impact they have on your life and why you want to replace them with positive alternatives. Understanding the underlying reasons behind your habits will strengthen your motivation for change.
Set clear and specific goals: Define the new positive habits you want to cultivate. Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, if you want to quit smoking, your goal might be to become a non-smoker within three months.
Analyze triggers and cues: Pay attention to the triggers and cues that lead to your bad habits. Identify the situations, emotions, or people that tend to activate the unwanted behavior. Understanding these triggers will help you develop strategies to counteract them.
Replace with positive alternatives: Identify alternative behaviors that align with your goals and can replace the bad habits. Choose actions that bring positive benefits and help address the underlying needs that the bad habit was fulfilling. For example, if you tend to eat unhealthy snacks when stressed, replace it with a healthier coping mechanism like deep breathing exercises or going for a walk.
Some tips when you start these positive habit changes:
Start small and build gradually: Begin by focusing on one habit at a time. Break down your new habit into small, manageable steps that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine. This approach allows you to build momentum and increases the likelihood of success.
Establish reminders and cues: Create visual or auditory reminders to prompt you to practice the new habit. Use sticky notes, alarms on your phone, or habit tracking apps to help keep the new behavior at the forefront of your mind.
Celebrate milestones and reward yourself: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements along the way. When you reach significant milestones or successfully practice the new habit consistently, reward yourself with something meaningful to reinforce positive behavior.
Be patient and persistent: Changing habits takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and understand that setbacks may happen. If you slip back into old habits occasionally, view it as a learning opportunity and recommit to your new habits. Perseverance and consistency will lead to long-lasting positive change.
By following these steps and maintaining a focused and determined mindset, you can gradually phase out bad habits and replace them with positive ones. Remember, the journey of habit change is a continuous process, and each small step forward contributes to your overall growth and well-being.
Beginner Resources for Doing the Work
Books
Financial Feminist by Toni Dunlap
Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach - Read more here: Blog Post
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Think Again by Adam Grant
Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
How to do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera
Budgets Don’t Work (But This Does) by Melissa Browne
Good Vibes Good Life by Vex King
Podcasts
Financial Feminist with Toni Dunlap
So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
The Personal Finance Podcast with Andrew Giancola
The Rich Dad Radio Show with Robert Kiyosaki
Boss Babe with Danielle Canty and Natalie Ellis
The Money with Katie Show
Mindset Magic and Manifestation Podcast with Mikayla Jai
Social Accounts
Instagram
@moremoneyforshoes
@Bossbabe
Annie Petsche - career and fulfillment coach - for multi passionate people
Resources
