Habits are like leaves. A single leaf, on it’s own, isn’t responsible for whole lot. It may be beautiful to look at, and it may inspire a larger vision or thought, but the utility of a single leaf is minimal.

An entire tree full of leaves, even a forest full of trees that are full of leaves, is entirely different. Single leaves help make up the canopy that provides shade to the ground beneath it. Leaves take in carbon dioxide, and replenish our air with breathable oxygen, helping to ensure the breathable balance that we need to breathe and survive.

Alone on a tree, while artistic and perhaps inspirational, the single leaf’s utility and strength lies in the fact that there are millions of them, and that’s how they attain their goals of shade, shelter, food, and balancing our environment.

Habits are not dissimilar from leaves in this.

Our habits are repeated behaviors that (hopefully) yield positive results. Our habits have incredible potential. A habit of writing, of exercise, of meditation, of taking photos, of speaking kindly, making meals at home; they all have incredible potential.

Take exercise for example. If you are trying to attain or maintain health, exercise is a key component to that. A single instance, a single trip to the gym, is not going to make you or I healthy. Rather, it’s the repeated action of exercise, every day, that has a cumulative effect. While the single workout session is not without its merits, it is the repeated action of working out that leads to the outcomes that you and I are trying to attain.

The effects of repeated habits go beyond what we initially imagine as well. Much like how leaves on a tree have more than one positive effect, the effects of our positive habits have far-reaching positive consequences too.

Going back to our example of exercise – we attain or maintain health (in conjunction with a healthy diet of course) through exercise. We also gain self-confidence, strength, we may gain insight into ourselves, the possible effects are almost endless.

Examining the leaves on a tree helps us to realize that every leaf plays a role in the canopy of shade or color that we enjoy and appreciate. Much like leaves, examining our habits helps us to realize that every action plays a role in our current existence.

The MAKE ROOM Planner & Journal is a great way to examine your goals and the direction you want to head in, and then build those healthy habits to support your vision. The MAKE ROOM Planner & Journal enables you to design your life, helping you to live with purpose and intent.