At the heart of this method
is the idea that a person should practice doing something for
a single minute, every day at the same time.
Almost all of us
periodically set ourselves a new goal or challenge — and just
as often in the end we fail to achieve it. We end
up telling ourselves that we’re just not ready yet, that we’ll
do it next week, next month…next year.
We might even
pursue them with zeal at the start. But once we’ve made a small
amount of effort, we’ll tell ourselves we’ve done enough, and it’s time
to take this whole “starting a new life” thing more slowly.
Why does it always
turn out like this? The answer’s fairly obvious: because we try
to achieve too much, too fast, we get sick of the new responsibility
and, because it’s difficult to change old habits and try something new.
kaizen is the simple technique of practicing something for one minute every day.
Just One Minute A Day
In Japanese culture
there exists the practice of Kaizen, which includes the idea of the
“one-minute principle” for self-improvement. At the heart of this
method is the idea that a person should practice doing something for
a single minute, every day at the same time.
You can’t do Kaizen just once or twice and
expect immediate results. You have to be in it for the long
haul. — Masaaki Imai
Clearly, it shouldn’t
be any trouble for absolutely anyone — even the laziest person —
to carry out a given task for such a small amount of time.
Whereas you will more often than not find
an excuse not to do something when faced with carrying
it out for 30 minutes or an hour a day, you should
be able to do it without any misgivings for just 60 seconds.
Even the biggest mountain
can seem smaller if you take it one step at a time.
The Pursuit of Continuous Improvement
Whether it’s doing
press-ups or reading a book in a foreign language,
in this case the task before you won’t seem like something unpleasant
which you have to get through, but will instead be an activity
which brings you joy and satisfaction. By taking one little step
at a time, you will move on to the path
of self-perfection and achieve great results.
When you’re inspired by such feelings, you
will gradually begin to increase the amount of time you spend doing
the task which you have set yourself.
It’s important
to overcome that lack of confidence you might have in your own
abilities, as well as free yourself from those feelings of guilt
and helplessness.
A simple technique that
requires daily discipline to achieve noticeable results.
Celebrate Each Step Forward
You need
to experience a sense of victory and success to move
forward. When you’re inspired by such feelings, you will gradually begin
to increase the amount of time you spend doing the task which you
have set yourself.
Maybe at first just
for five minutes more, but then this will soon turn into half an hour, and then
even longer after that.
In this way, the
one-minute principle lets you see the progress you’re making right before your
eyes.
Each step that you take
in your personal growth is a cause for celebration.
Change and Wisdom
Kaizen originated
in Japan. The word itself contains two roots — “kai” (change) and
“zen” (wisdom). It was invented by Masaaki Imai, who believes this
philosophy can can be applied just as successfully to the world
of business as it can to one’s personal life.
The word itself contains two roots — “kai” (change) and “zen”
(wisdom).
At first glance, this practice might seem doubtful and
ineffective for people who have grown up in Western culture, with its
emphasis on the idea that results can be achieved only
by undertaking immense efforts.
Imagine what you could
achieve through the pursuit of continuous improvement.
Applicable for Everybody
But elaborate,
challenging programs of self-improvement which deprive a person
of huge amounts of energy can simply end up exhausting them, and
leave no tangible results. Kaizan is something that anyone can
attempt in virtually any sphere of their life. In Japan, for
example, it is often applied to improve management techniques.
All you have
to do is understand what it is you want
to achieve, and you’re already set to go.
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