Erinina Marie

Erinina Marie is now friends with Serena Christine

Erinina Marie rated a book 5 of 5 stars

The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Erinina Marie rated a book 4 of 5 stars

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
by Charles Duhigg (Goodreads Author)

read in June, 2012

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I work hard, I train for hours. I’ve thought about strength vs. endurance vs. stretching. But I’ve never really thought about how to really train to be an elite performer. How to train to be able to produce the consistent show that I want, without al...more I work hard, I train for hours. I’ve thought about strength vs. endurance vs. stretching. But I’ve never really thought about how to really train to be an elite performer. How to train to be able to produce the consistent show that I want, without all the stress and nerves. It turns out that the answer is habit. Each piece should be so ingrained that when the music starts, my body reacts. No thought or worry or doubt left, only the desire to make it a little better than the last time by eliminating the self doubt or shakiness or misfirings of too much adrenaline.

I’ve never been very good at habits though, or will power, or discipline…whatever you want to call it. When told to do simple repetitive tasks, my brain screams in a petulant whine, “why?!”

And sometimes, I know “why” and sometimes I don’t, but it doesn’t much matter to my level or commitment to being disciplined. No where is this more apparent than in my feelings about making my bed in the morning. Why should I? Especially when I happen to love crawling into the messy nest I call bed at night, since I work and eat from my bed, relax and watch movies from my bed. Why would I bother making it to rumple it up again? Ever?

Well it seems that there may just be psychological value to the act. It is a signal to your brain to start your day, to wake up, to get up and go! It is also a habit that I currently don’t have and according to the Power of Habit, the best way to conquer other habits like not drinking so much, getting to the gym every morning, writing 5 pages a day is by changing something like making my bed. A “keystone habit.“

At least I think it is. In reality, finding the keystone habit(s) that will knock down my bad habits and build up my good ones, is way more tricky and confusing. For instance, will daily meditation help relieve stress, create awareness and prevent over drinking? In theory. Or will waking up early to write or workout make it easier to wind down and fall asleep at night rather than end the day with a glass of wine? Maybe.

Alright, let’s break it down. 3 things: small wins, new platforms and contagious excellence. So, making the bed, writing, working out and meditating are all small wins I suppose. Unless of course its a day of writer’s block, a bad day at the gym, or a schedule that keeps you pushing snooze more often than you accomplish these things, I suppose. New platforms…okay, I guess that’s the beginning idea. I imagine my pieces in my head. I do this before I go to bed, when I wake up, right before performing, etc. And I also practice them over and over in real life. I make the pieces themselves a habit. That part I get. Part three, contagious excellence. I’m a little unclear about if this means a culture of excellence by implementing the first two principles, or if it means to surround yourself with the people, environment, etc. that will encourage and support your excellence. Though, I suppose both are pretty good points.

So, maybe just waking up at a certain time each day and picking workout, write, clean or meditate would be a good keystone habit. And maybe the freedom to pick from one each day will keep me from sabotaging my new habit with boredom. Of course, not picking workout for my first hour of consciousness doesn’t mean that I skip a workout that day all together, it just means that perhaps I should try doing one of those four things before I get up and open the computer and the emails and the distraction. Possibly. But definitely worth a try.

Well, glad we got that sorted. I’m still not entirely sure I understand how to identify a keystone habit, besides retroactively of course. But at least I have something new to try. And I’m excited to be so polished on my pieces that I never have to get nervous again. Well, at least not too nervous. ;)(less)

Erinina Marie liked Katrina Passick Lumsden's review of Fifty Shades of Grey:

"

What in the hell just happened? Did I really read that? Oh, my god, I did. I did read that.

Meet Anastasia Steele:

Ana is just a giant mess of a human being. She's insecure to the point of it being laughable, 'klutzy' (even though she only trips tw... "
Read more of this review »

Erinina Marie marked as to-read:

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking
by Oliver Burkeman

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Erinina Marie added:

How I Learned to Drive
by Paula Vogel

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Erinina Marie is currently reading:

My Life And Work (The Autobiography Of Henry Ford)
by Henry Ford

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Erinina Marie rated a book 4 of 5 stars

The Girls
by Lori Lansens (Goodreads Author)

read in August, 2011

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This fictional memoir of two conjoined twins is fascinating in telling the story of the girls' individuality and independence. You can tell that the author did her research for this book, talking about how each girl's bodies, emotions and thoughts re...more

Erinina Marie rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Around the World in Eighty Days
by Jules Verne

read in July, 2011

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While I enjoyed the historical viewpoint that this journey gives in its worldview, and while I did in the end find myself getting a little caught up in whether or not they would make it, whether or not the love story would work out, etc; mostly I fou...more

Erinina Marie is currently reading:

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
by Jules Verne

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Erinina Marie is now friends with Serena Christine
May 01, 2013 06:13pm
Erinina Marie rated a book 5 of 5 stars The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 01, 2012 08:57pm
Erinina Marie rated a book 4 of 5 stars The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg (Goodreads Author) read in June, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I work hard, I train for hours. I’ve thought about strength vs. endurance vs. stretching. But I’ve never really thought about how to really train to be an elite performer. How to train to be able to produce the consistent show that I want, without al...more
Jul 21, 2012 08:41pm · see review
Erinina Marie liked Katrina Passick Lumsden's review of Fifty Shades of Grey: " What in the hell just happened? Did I really read that? Oh, my god, I did. I did read that. Meet Anastasia Steele: Ana is just a giant mess of a human being. She's insecure to the point of it being laughable, 'klutzy' (even though she only trips tw... " Read more of this review »
Jul 21, 2012 08:35pm · see review
Erinina Marie marked as to-read: The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 20, 2012 11:57am
Erinina Marie added: How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2012 11:44am
Erinina Marie is currently reading: My Life And Work (The Autobiography Of Henry Ford) by Henry Ford	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 19, 2012 10:18pm
Erinina Marie rated a book 4 of 5 stars The Girls by Lori Lansens (Goodreads Author) read in August, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This fictional memoir of two conjoined twins is fascinating in telling the story of the girls' individuality and independence. You can tell that the author did her research for this book, talking about how each girl's bodies, emotions and thoughts re...more
Sep 20, 2011 04:03pm · see review
Erinina Marie rated a book 3 of 5 stars Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne read in July, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
While I enjoyed the historical viewpoint that this journey gives in its worldview, and while I did in the end find myself getting a little caught up in whether or not they would make it, whether or not the love story would work out, etc; mostly I fou...more
Sep 20, 2011 03:57pm · see review
Erinina Marie is currently reading: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 20, 2011 03:51pm

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