We often make the mistake of believing that sticking to good habits is an all-or-nothing game. We assume that our lack of motivation is evidence that we do not have the power to make the change happen. Or we think that if we slip up our diet, then we have ruined the whole diet.

However, these beliefs are incorrect. These are called habits which are behaviors that we repeat consistently. But this behaviors are not something we repeat perfectly. This small concept does not require perfection.

When it comes to breaking and building good/bad habits, small mistakes do not matter in the long-run. Instead the second mistake is the one that is far more important than the first. And it does not matter when it occurs, all that matters is that you have to eventually get back on track.

Everyone including the top performers in all fields make mistakes all the time. CEOs forget to meditate, athletes skip their workouts, and nutritionists eat unhealthy meals. These people are human, just like you and me. There are many points during their careers where they have made a mistake, however what separates the elite performers from everyone else? It is consistency, not perfection. This is the reason why the most important thing is to not prevent mistakes all together, but to avoid making a mistake twice in a row. Errors are part of the process, but they shouldn’t become a part of a pattern.

One mistake is an outlier. Two mistakes is a beginning of a pattern. In order to kill this pattern before it snowballs into something bigger is one reason why learning how to get back on track quickly is an essential skill for building good habits.