3 Ways to Stop Drifting

You know how when you have made a commitment, started to progress and all of a sudden you are derailed, returning to old habits and places of comfort? Especially after getting rid of limiting beliefs and some of those self-sabotaging habits? They were on top of the world and then… backsliding or drifting.

How do you stop drifting back into those old habits, old mindsets, and old behaviors? There are plenty of different ways, but today I am going to give you three points to protect you against the drift.

Expect the Drift

And guess what, you don’t have to freak out because you know to expect it. It is going to happen. It is a natural tendency to drift back to comfort and what we have known. I know some of you have been doing some deep work and breaking those beliefs off that have limited you for soooo long in your lives. And you think and hope that you will never go back, but let’s be realistic here. You’re not superhuman. It takes work and consistency over time to rewire your brain, habits, and behaviors. And you’re never going to reach perfection.

Instead of freaking out about the drive, expect it and normalize it. Know it is going to come, embrace the rhythm that sometimes you’re going to be crushing it… and other times not so much. But here’s what will set you apart. Here’s what helps you create the life you’ve been desiring: YOUR AWARENESS INCREASES!

And instead of wallowing in it and living in it, when you start to drift you ask yourself, “Why do I keep drifting back?” That is PROOF of YOUR GROWTH, PROOF of YOUR PROGRESS. So stop beating your brains out, condemning and shaming… normalize it and realize what a freaking rockstar you are because you knew and were able to readjust and get back into the flow. You’re not broken, this is completely normal.

Recalibrate Regularly

I didn’t say calibrate because if you are reading this blog, you are already calibrated to a standard that is above the “normal” because you are extraordinary. I use recalibrate because sometimes you have just got to get back to the setting that you already established.

Drifts are going to happen. There are going to be rhythms to your life when you are on and when you are off. So you have just got to create habits in your life that protect you from the drift. That’s how you recalibrate. I recalibrate daily with my morning routine. I pull out my journal, sit in my living room in a particular chair next to the window with a cup of English tea. And I do that every day. But maybe for you the morning routine might look different or it could be an evening routine. Mentally taking time to unpack your day, giving gratitude, reflecting on where to improve… it will protect you from the drift.

It could also be monthly or quarterly recalibration. Like 3 days away and go out into nature. Maybe just some time to reflect, journal or meditate. Personally, every 90 days or so I recalibrate my goals as well. It just seems long enough to get a whole lot done and short enough to not get distracted. These goals help me to keep the drift away.

I also have found recalibration in vacations. This is a part of the rhythm of my life and I don’t compromise on it. And those times are like extended times away where I get to recalibrate. I take time to realign with what is most important so that I do not drift from my purpose and my destiny.

Get Help

I know that at times I might sound like a broken record, but enlist some help because you can’t do it on your own. You were created for community. You were created to thrive and grow in the context of community. A friend of mine taught me a long time ago that you need to tell the truth and get some help! Some of you have been idolating. You’ve been trying to do it all on your own. Don’t do that anymore. Get some accountability in your life to be able to say; here are my goals, these are my objectives. And get somebody to hold you accountable on a weekly basis.

And I want to be honest and tell you the truth. Having friends that they love you, support you, and hold you accountable, that’s awesome, that’s gold. But they aren’t necessarily the kind of help that you want to go to the next level.

For example: I have friends like this, they are gifts from God, but I still pay a coach and am in a mastermind. These environments protect me against the drift because every single week I know my coach is going to ask me, “Mark, did you do what you said you’re going to do?” “Are you following through on that goal, Mark?” and sometimes, “ I’m seeing this in your life and that’s concerning me. You’re getting out of balance.” He is always there to ask the right questions and hold me to the highest level of accountability.

And the mastermind environment every week pushes me, challenges me, and calls me out on my crap! If I make excuses, I’ve got protection against the drift because I’ve enlisted the help of the people around me. And you’re going to be better, you’re going to protect against that drift in your life if you have got the right people in your life to support you.

Having those people in your life, if you are really committed to your destiny might mean making an investment, paying a coach, or investing in a mastermind. And if you have got friends that are deep and soul level people that will hold you accountable, push you, and not let you make excuses, lean into them! Don’t isolate because you need people in your life!

I hope this has served you and added value to your life. I want you to have the life that you have envisioned and that comes with occasional drifts but these three things can help you to get back on track! I want you to have it all and you know what? You can, you can’t do it on your own, but you can have it all. This is where you should go out there and give your greatness to the world because somebody needs what is on the inside of you! Love you! Have an awesome day!!