Love The Process, Not The Outcome

Do you have a habit that has become so ingrained that you don't even think about it anymore? 

For me that is working out.

I am not sure when it became that way but getting movement in has become a non-negotiable habit. On vacation, traveling, sleep-deprived, whatever it may be, most days of the week, I will find a way to get my workout in.

As I was thinking about how it has become such a cornerstone habit, I realized that it was because I loved the process and was not overly concerned by the outcome.

The truth is that if exercising did not do anything beneficial for my body or health, I would still do it. I do not workout because I am trying to change my body (frankly, diet is a significantly better tool for that) and while I am of course aware of all the positive effects that movement has on long-term health, that is not a big factor for why I am so willing to wake up early to hit the gym.

I love my current workout routine, I love my gym, I love the fact that it is just me and my music, I love that I have alone time with my thoughts while I am on the treadmill, I love the way I feel when I am done with a workout, I love the quiet mornings. You get the picture. 

I have fallen in love with the process, no matter the outcome.  

It is something that I am trying to apply to other areas of my life, and it can have a powerful effect on your life too. Instead of focusing solely on the outcome and what you are striving to get, try to find at least a part of the process that you find enjoyable. 

Find a way to love cooking and making healthy recipes instead of just focusing on losing weight. Enjoy the process of writing. Make your meditation habit something that you look forward to.  Whatever it is, examine how you can make the process something you enjoy instead of just zeroing in on what you will get at the end.

Research has shown that even when we do accomplish these goals, the anticipated high is much shorter and much less than we anticipate. And then we quickly move on to the next goal. 

Process over outcome.