"Rich Habits" Book Review
How could a book published in 2010, read like it was written in the 30's?! I've gone and rewritten these "Habits of the Rich" to be more life-giving.
Recently, I was browsing through my books to see which one called to me, when I saw, “Rich Habits” by Thomas C. Corley. I picked it up and thumbed through until I found the summary of the Rich Habits Promises. Here they are:
I will form good daily habits and follow these good daily habits each and every day.
I will set goals for each day, for each month, for each year and for the long-term; I will focus my goals each and every day.
I will engage in self-improvement each and every day.
I will devote part of each and every day in caring for my health.
I will devote part of each and every day to forming lifelong relationships.
I will live each and every day in a state of moderation.
I will accomplish my daily tasks each and every day; I will adopt a “DO IT NOW” mindset.
I will engage in rich thinking each and every day.
I will save ten percent of my gross income every paycheck.
I will control my thoughts and emotions each and every day.
I really love most of those, but there are some that kinda struck me the wrong way. So wrong, in fact, I figured this book was written before 1950; so I went to look. To my surprise, it was written in 2010! The whole book just kinda seems like a businessman from the 30’s wrote it. Also, in my rewritten versions, you will see that I took out the word, “will”. When you say will, it puts it in the future. I’m putting them in present tense. This is how I would rewrite the promises, and why. I will form good daily habits and follow these good daily habits each and every day. Unless, that is, I simply need a break. Don’t get me wrong - not doing something because you don’t feel like doing it isn’t a good thing to do. After all, creating a habit can be outside of our comfort zone and requires commitment. But to insist I do my new habits each and every day takes out some opportunity for spontaneity and creativity! What if one day I wake up and have the urge to take a walk; but I’m supposed to write in my journal because it’s a new habit I’m starting? Am I supposed to ditch my intuitive nudge to take the walk? That is a big ol’ no from my standpoint. My intuition would have been speaking to me to take that walk. Who knows what big idea I would have had, who I would have met, or what problem I would have solved on that walk?! Rewritten: I form good daily habits while allowing spontaneity when it arises. I will set goals for each day, for each month, for each year and for the long-term; I will focus my goals each and every day. Yes to all of that! BUT the big caveat I have with this is to not attach to those goals. Do them because they feel good and you enjoy either doing them or the outcome from doing them. In order to have goals, you need to know what you want. Knowing what you want is the most important part, and I like to refer to the “goals” as “baby steps” that will somehow, some way, get you to what you want. Rewritten: I know what I want and take baby steps toward that in a consistent manner, while having fun and rolling with the currents of life. I will engage in self-improvement each and every day. Yes, of course! I would like to mention, though, that self-improvement isn’t always reading a book, relentlessly watching your thoughts, or even doing affirmations. Sometimes self-improvement is enjoying iced tea on a warm day, or reading your favorite fiction book under the warmth of blankets. Rewritten: I engage in various types of self-improvement each and every day. I will devote part of each and every day in caring for my health. Again, this one is just about perfect. Our bodies are what gets us through this life and we should tend to them like a farmer tends to crops. The way this book reads though, it puts off the air that we need to be in the gym for 45 minutes each day. Um. No. Not unless that brings you joy. Caring for your health is taking care of your emotions, whole foods, and moving your body. And it can happen at various times throughout the day. Rewritten: I care for my body and emotional state each and every day. I will devote part of each and every day to forming lifelong relationships. I mean, yeah, but the introvert part of me thinks this is exhausting. Every day?! Personally, I haven’t been able to figure this one out - I mean, it sounds like you need to interact, network each day. Otherwise it wouldn’t say, “forming”. That implies it’s rather new, right? I DO believe that those you love should be told so, and treated with love each and every day; but if that’s what he meant, he would have said, “maintaining”. Also, if you aren’t currently doing what you want to be doing, make those connections that you want! Rewritten: I devote time, each day, to making sure those I love know that I love them. I network with other professionals in my field (or future field) on a thought out timeline. I will live each and every day in a state of moderation. Um. BORING! Each day?! Life is meant to be lived and sometimes that means you might drink a little too much, indulge in food a bit much, or, I don’t know, do something exciting every once in a while! Rewritten: I live responsibly and enjoy life at the same time. I will accomplish my daily tasks each and every day; I will adopt a “DO IT NOW” mindset. The procrastinator in me really dislikes this “rule”; but it’s kinda right. I guess. :) Doing all of your mundane chores each day is much better when you get them done early. It frees up the rest of your day for magical things to happen. For that reason, I’m leaving this rule as it stands. Rewritten: I accomplish my daily tasks each and every day; I have a “DO IT NOW” mindset. I will engage in rich thinking each and every day. Again, the way this book makes me feel, he’s talking about imagining an old banker, counting money with a cigar in his mouth. And, let’s be real, to “engage in rich thinking” really means to visualize. Rewritten: I visualize my perfect life each and every day. I will save ten percent of my gross income every paycheck. There’s nothing wrong with this one, except for the way it’s worded. Many people don’t get paychecks anymore, but make a ton of money. Who has anything against saving money? Not me! Rewritten: I save 10% from all of my income. I will control my thoughts and emotions each and every day. Not to sound like a broken record, but how is this a modern book?! I totally agree that you should watch your thoughts and emotions as much as you possibly can, but “controlling” them comes from awareness - not force. Awareness of your thoughts and emotions while realizing that it is pure love who is observing those thoughts and emotions. The way the author puts it, reminds me of “Don’t think of a pink elephant!” Approaching your self with love and compassion is always the answer. Rewritten: I observe my thoughts and emotions as much as I can throughout the day, and realize any thought or emotion besides love and happiness is coming from ego, not my truest self. There you have it! My take on the Rich Habits promises. I’ll put them all together below so you can easily copy and print if you feel inclined. I form good daily habits while allowing spontaneity when it arises. I know what I want and take baby steps toward that in a consistent manner, while having fun and rolling with the currents of life. I engage in various types of self-improvement each and every day. I care for my body and emotional state each and every day. I devote time, each day, to making sure those I love know that I love them. I network with other professionals in my field (or future field) on a thought out timeline. I live responsibly and enjoy life at the same time. I accomplish my daily tasks each and every day; I have a “DO IT NOW” mindset. I visualize my perfect life each and every day. I save 10% from all of my income. I observe my thoughts and emotions as much as I can throughout the day, and realize any thought or emotion besides love and happiness is coming from ego, not my truest self.
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