In his book “The ONE Thing,” Gary Keller advocates for us to stop spreading ourselves thin and focus on what’s most important. He urges us to ask ourselves, “What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” It’s a tough question, but it forces us to focus on the big picture.
As someone with a history of autoimmune issues, I know that everything in my life becomes harder when I don’t eat the way that I need to. When I eat processed food, sugar or gluten, inflammation rages throughout my body, causing joint and tendon pain among other problems. When that happens, all I want to do is sleep, so I lack the energy to connect with people and accomplish tasks. For me, “the ONE thing” is eating wisely. This means I need to prioritize food preparation time and stick to what works for me or else other parts of my life suffer.
For others, "the ONE thing" may not be so clear cut. Keller suggests we apply his question to several areas of our lives: relationships, health, job, finances and spiritual life. For example, you could ask yourself, “What’s the ONE thing I can do to … improve my relationship with my partner, strengthen my bond with my kids, help my team succeed, relieve my stress, go to bed earlier, save money or exercise more?” Then do it—one area at a time. I’ve found that sticking to one important goal fosters momentum that benefits other areas of my life.
Sunday Journal Prompt
What’s ONE thing you can do to improve your life?
