I started an experiment on myself this week related to my health. My goal for this week was to observe certain habits and record them. Just observe. Just record. Not make any changes.
Yet it seems by simply observing and writing down, I make changes.
I don’t do certain things I would normally do, because I don’t want the added hassle of writing it down. But if I don’t write it down, I won’t remember it. So I can’t just observe. For the experiment to be somewhat valuable, I have to write it down. So I can compare it later, when I do make changes (despite the fact that changes are already happening).
So, if I were my own best friend, and I decided to engage in an experiment with myself, of observation and recording only, I would tell myself “it’s okay” when I utterly fail it.
It’s okay, because really, the goal is better health in the long-run. If by observing and writing, I am already making a few healthy changes, so be it!
The hard part will be when I eventually stop observing and writing. What do I do then, when no one (including myself) is really paying attention anymore?
Perhaps, that is the whole point of this observing and writing down? By paying attention to what I’m doing, I do better.
Ah-ha! That reminds me of Maya Angelou, “When you know better, you do better.”
Well, I’m knowing better! How about you? Have you ever tried to observe something and by the act of observing it changed the outcome?
If I were my own best friend... 
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