The Standard You Keep When No One Is Watching

What do you do, when no one is watching?

I know this seems like an intrusive question but here's another. Why do you do it?

Still here? Allow me to explain my curiosity.

I recently joined a fundraising initiative for a charitable organisation by performing a daily exercise challenge for 30 days straight. The brief was simple, "complete a plank for 30 days". 

I decided the duration of the plank. 3 minutes.

What is a Plank

A plank is an isometric core-strengthening exercise that involves holding a straight, rigid body position—similar to a plank of wood—while supported on toes and forearms or hands. It acts as a full-body exercise that primarily targets the abdominals, back, and shoulders by keeping the torso rigid. - Wikipedia

Why 3 minutes? 

Because 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes didn't feel challenging enough. You could say, I identify as a 3 minute man.

In the stillness of the posture, I break a sweat. My heart rate increases and when the stopwatch strikes the allotted time, I'm ready for it to end.

Today, I'm 24 days in and committed to its completion at the end of this month but something dawned on me earlier this week. If I didn't do it a few times, who would know?

So why do I endure that moment day in, day out? With no one monitoring what I’m really doing? No evidence, just my word that it’s being done. 

Up to this week, I didn’t know the answer to these questions so I had to go and find out. 

The following three quotes provide a clue, here’s what I found:

• "The strongest force in the universe is a human being living consistently with his or her identity". - Tony Robbins
• "True behaviour change is identity change. When your behaviour and your identity are fully aligned, you are no longer pursuing behaviour change. You are simply acting like the type of person you already believe yourself to be".  - James Clear (Atomic Habits) 
• "You are not fighting your habits. You are fighting your 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆. Every action you take is trying to stay loyal to what you believe is true about you" - Marshall Sylver.

All of the above resonated.

As human beings we have an innate motivation to be congruent with the identity we align ourselves with. 

That includes completing a 30 day challenge, completing a task by a specified deadline or simply sticking to your word.

Can I really look my family, friends, colleagues in the eye, knowing I didn’t do what I said I would do? Who knows?

Can I look myself in the mirror, knowing I didn’t. ABSOLUTELY NOT! It’s that simple.

So here goes. Wish me luck.

A few questions to reflect on:
• If no one tracked your workouts, your diet, or your promises… would your standards stay the same?

• Are your daily actions proving who you say you are or quietly contradicting it?

• When you look in the mirror, are you meeting your own expectations… or just everyone else’s?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.