100 Days of WTF?!
No sweats, meats, dairy, bread, white flour, white rice, or caffeine. This is what my church calls the “Daniel Fast” and we were going on it for thirty days beginning January 1, 2016. I got sick off of sweat meats on December 31st because I didn’t want to waste them. At the same time that my church announced the Daniel Fast, Cabur Senaar posted the 100 days of Discipline. Rather than choosing some other thing to do, I figured I could extend the fast to 100 days. By day thirty the fast should be a habit right?
The first thirty days was smooth. I had a group around me of people who were working through the same thing. We shared recipes and I struggles and each Sunday I knew I could find a group of people who were fasting right down the road from where I lived. By about day 40, I started to lose steam. Started to take short cuts, started to cease caring. What happened? It was like the air had gone out of my balloons. I could make all sorts of excuses, but what it really boils down to is my motives.
Why, honestly, why was I doing this?
I was doing it for my own selfish reasons. To be seen as good and dedicated to my church and to its mission. When everyone else breathed a sigh after thirty days, it was hard to keep up the stamina. Once I was finished with the thirty days, I could give myself a pat on the back for a job well done in one arena, while neglecting the other. All it comes down to for me is “what is the biggest payoff for reputation and ego”
What did I learn?
Try to make a hobby a habit
We make the assumption that people automatically do what they say they enjoy. I like to read, but I don’t read every day. I like to write, but I don’t write every day. If I want to write a novel (which by the way is one of my goals) I can’t wait for the mood to strike me. I have to be intentional.
Be faithful in the little things.
The list of no-no’s at the top was absolute torture even for the thirty days that I kept it going. If I were able to do it over again, I would have chosen one thing.
Be sure this is something you really want to do/ can see the value in
This doesn’t always work (as has been the historical case for me throughout my apprenticeship and further on in my training) but what I mean is: don’t simply do something because others say it is good for you, necessary, fun, a requirement. Eventually, get into the mindset where you are doing it for you.
Research and Remember
Inevitably, you are going to run into days in which you are not going to feel like it. This is where you have to put some mental muscle to work. Recall the small successes you have made on the journey to where you are now (particularly as they concern your discipline) and research the benefits of your discipline. For example, if your discipline is to drink eight glasses of water per day, research and read about the benefits of it. Journal your progress in terms of how you are feeling. You may find that you end up moving a bit further on the journey.
May the Force be with you
