To be honest, I owe the idea for this post to Chik Fil A.
No, it’s not because of this Tim Hawkins wonderful tribute.
Rather, it was their own creation that got me thinking.
A quick search online returns the following results of these two words –
Rut– a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change.
Groove – a long, narrow cut or depression, especially one made to guide motion or receive a corresponding ridge
While at first glance they sound pretty similar, here’s the huge difference that stuck out to me, though –
While a rut specifies a dull, unproductive, hard to change habit, a groove is a long, narrow cut to guide motion.
One indicates you’re stuck and another profiles your routine of production.
We’ve all been in the dreaded rut stage and it’s depressing.
Regardless of how we got there, as it’s definition states, it’s a pattern that is hard to change.
Yet change it must if we desire more.
What are 3 ways habits are formed?
According to Charles Duhigg in his book on this study, they are – cue, routine, reward.
If we can change the routine based on the cue, then we can move out of a dull, unproductive pattern we’ve gotten ourselves into and get into a groove.
As we discussed in an earlier post you can read here, you can begin this with a keystone habit.
Why do we want to get in a groove, though? Can we just stay in a rut if we’re not hurting anyone?
Sure.
Stay where you are doing the same thing you’ve always done, but expecting different results in your life. (By the way, isn’t that the unofficial definition of insanity?)
To gradually move your actions from rut status to groove status provides 3 benefits to us.
More productive
If you are like me and your “to-do” list never seems to get smaller or go away, then being productive is non-negotiable.
I constantly find myself looking for ways to be more organized, work efficiently, and increase my productivity.
In order for me to feel accomplished on a large scale (monthly) or smaller scale (daily), I have made it a point and am continuing to work on ways to stay in a groove for productivity’s sake.
There’s an old proverb that says ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss’. If you want to be more productive, get in a groove.
Increased momentum
I’ve personally never seen a small snowball pushed from the top of a great height and as it rolls grows in size when it picks up more snow to add to its mass.
However, the “snowball” effect is an analogy we all understand.
Your momentum will carry you past obstacles, through seemingly impossible situations, and into places we would never have imagined we’d go.
Racking up little wins along the way by staying in a groove helps us accomplish greater things as we go along.
Fulfillment
Finally, being in a groove helps us find fulfillment.
It’s rewarding and satisfying when we stop for a moment, take inventory and look back at what we’ve been able to accomplish.
We see the wins stacked up in the corner and we keep a spirit of gratitude about us when we realize how far we’ve come.
Don’t discount the emotional lift you’ll get for staying in a groove, it’s relevant to our development. – Tweet this
Where are you today?
Are you stuck in a rut that you haven’t found a way to shake?
If you’re serious about leaving the “what if” behind, then change a habit and see how that can help you get into a groove instead.
I’d like to know where you feel you are. Comment below and let’s discuss!
