There’s a common phrase which says, “give the man an inch and he’ll take a mile.” When you think about it, you can probably relate to this happening to you at some point. You tried to be nice, whether it was helping someone out by literally giving them something or maybe you “let them off the hook” when they didn’t do something, and next thing you know, they’re asking/taking more than you agreed to.
Well, don’t be mad at that metaphorical man because, guess what? You are that person too! I was thinking about this in regards to my own workouts, eating habits, and other self-improvement actions. I get up really early (I’m usually up by 3:15 a.m.) so I can get my workout in, read, write this blog, and get some real estate-related work done before anyone else in the house is up and moving. Sometimes my alarm clock goes off and I just want to sleep in. What’s the harm in missing one day of working out, right? That line of thinking (giving myself an inch) can lead to a slippery slope (taking a mile). One missed workout, just like one cheat day, one binge-watching session, one of anything in which you “treat yourself” can (and often does) lead to another. It feels good. It’s easier and more convenient in the short-term. But what’s best for short-term is often in conflict with what’s best for the long-term.
Whenever you feel like you “deserve” something, be on guard. That’s the most dangerous time! Keep putting in the hard work. It will be worth it in the long-run. Otherwise the habits you need most become like the stereotypical New Years resolution…forgotten after 45 days. Don’t get caught in the cycle of working hard for a month, and just when you are starting to make progress, stopping “temporarily” to give yourself a break. You’ll find that stopping feels good and you either never fully commit like you initially were or you never get started again.
We all want to take a mile when we give ourselves an inch. The key is to resist the temptation to take that given inch in the first place.