Commit to Calm day 18

Doing just one thing differently can have compounding effects. I am using “the power of one” to keep myself both calm and motivated.

Once upon a time, a lifetime ago, before children, I worked to motivate behavioral change in individuals. As a trainer, I helped people set and achieve personal goals. As a college instructor, I motivated students to learn and stretch out of their comfort zones. As a business consultant, I focused on anything from sales goals all the way up to the company’s vision for the future. One change done consistently over time can have big consequences, and I would encourage participants, students, and clients to consider this impact. Since beginning my Commitment to Calm, I’ve been reminding myself of this principle. I’m using the power of one to keep myself both calm and motivated.

The power of one degree

One of the fun, motivational ideas I liked to use in my trainings was Sam Parker’s 212° the extra degree. It’s a short book (about 20 minutes to flip through) and also a three-minute video, which you can view here. To sum it up, water is simply hot at 211°, but at 212° it boils. When water boils, it creates steam, which can power a locomotive. He cites numerous examples of the importance of just one: golf strokes in a championship, fractions of a second in the Olympics, a key ingredient in a recipe, and on, and on. That one degree of difference is huge.

The power of one and my Commitment to Calm

Although it can be overly simplistic and might make a cynic’s toes curl, I like the take-home point of Parker’s message: put in one degree more of effort. I don’t have to do an hour of yoga, meditate for 30 minutes, write in my gratitude journal, and make sure I’m present and enjoying life ALL day, EVERY day. Instead, I am reminding myself: Stay calm, do one thing. It lowers the amount of pressure I’m putting on myself, further facilitating that sense of calm I desire.

Image by Anitha Kapu from Pexels

As I’m working on my Commitment to Calm, keeping this baby-steps mentality is motivating. The more I engage in my calm habits, the more the effects are spilling over. For example, the kids were acting crazy last week. There was fighting, yelling, and general chaos coming down the hallway. I felt the frustration mounting as I charged towards the bedrooms, about to scream. For a brief second, I reminded myself I wanted to remain calm. I took a breath and chose my response. I was able to extinguish the fire without yelling.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was an improvement in parenting. Am I cured of yelling? No. Did I lose my shit another time that week? Yes. But this one moment of calm was progress for me. It motivates me to keep it up. I’m more likely to pause before yelling next time. If I pause and breathe for a minute today, and then tomorrow, and again the next day, the effects will be compounding. Small changes can add up to big rewards.

Have you made any small changes lately? Leave me a comment!

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