One of the principles that has allowed me to enjoy the benefits of losing 47 lbs came from my wife’s “Weight Watchers” group. They ask their participants to write down every thing they eat BEFORE they put it in their mouth. “Write it before you bite it” is the motto. It is amazing how much we eat without even thinking. Try to remember what you ate yesterday. I guarantee that unless you wrote it down, your estimate will be way less than you actually ate. When we “Write it before we bite it” it allows us to make a judgment call on both the consequences and the benefits of what we are about to consume.
That got me thinking.
This is a practice that leads to success in every phase of life.
When I started to exercise regularly, I wrote down what physical activity I wanted to do. Like biking. It made me acutely aware of the energy that would be expended and the benefits I would enjoy. One of those benefits was the privilege of biting more things. If I exercised more I could eat more. Cool! Write it before you bike it!
My mom taught me a similar principle in regard to being a wise consumer. If I wanted some widget very badly, instead of impulsively buying it she would make me write it down. I had to put that piece of paper away for two weeks. After two weeks, if I still wanted the widget , I could buy it. Many times after two weeks I didn’t want the item at all. I wanted something else. It would quickly go on the wish list for the two-week cooling off period. Writing it before buying it taught me to evaluate my needs and eliminated impulse buying…….. except for a 1973 Mustang. Write it before you buy it!
The Greek word for “Writing before biting” is “Plan” It is the most simple way to evaluate all aspects of your life. It is all about living proactively rather than reactively.
I cannot think of a single goal that I have written down, carefully considered and then pursued that I have not achieved.
One of the wisest and most powerful actions you can take is to write down a goal before you bite off the responsibility of seeing it through. Writing down goals before you attack them, weighing the cost and the reward, is imperative to seeing your goals through to success. If you have written a goal down, you can see it on paper and if it is honest and if it is good and if it is pure and consistent with what God has called you to do………………. bite it.
Comments
Ken, browsing sites for “wanna-be-plublished” writers, i saw your name on an upcoming conference. No big deal…but your face kept flashing in my minds eye. Went downstairs to journal and pray about the next steps God wants me to take in the process. Then daughter calls me upstairs to fix her alarm clock. i drop it on the floor and you come on the radio about God trying to tell your daughter something (using the gas pump). So i figure He must be trying to tell me something, so i google you, find your “write before you bite” stuff and am blown away. i have 47 pounds to lose and need to get off blood pressure and cholesterol pills! And your wisdom about writing it down to make sure it is consistent with God’s plans is ringing true. i have been afraid to write my plans down as i don’t want them to get in the way of God’s, but i keep praying for clarity. OK, i’m rambling. But you helped somebody get in touch with God and get real today.
Very encouraging Mary. I hope you will also check out our summit conference. https://dynamiccommunicators.com/summit/summit1.shtml What a delight it would be to have you there. One of our sessions features Michael Hyatt a publisher who speaks directly to this issue. Check out his website. Lots of info there on getting published. http://www.michaelhyatt.com
Mary, so good to know that the blog is touching lives. Thank you for our kind words.
Congratulations, Ken! You are a testament that God gives us discipline and self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. Thanks for encouraging me today.
Thank you Kathy. It sure has paid off.
I just found Your post and must say that You have right in Your words.
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I’m still learning from you, but I’m making my way to the top as well. I absolutely liked reading all that is posted on your website.Keep the posts coming. I liked it!
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Do you keep treats in your home for others? Are you tempted? Why keep them around? Keeping a food journal may help identify what needs to change in your environment.