We made a big decision in the cereal aisle (seriously)
Andrew and I were in the grocery store, both exhausted, our three-year-old going boneless in the cart like a protest noodle. Andrew grabbed the sugary cereal. I grabbed the organic one. We looked at each other.
Tiny moment. But here’s what I’ve realized:
We make about 200 of these micro-decisions every day on autopilot. And our defaults are quietly shaping the life we’re building.
“Your environment is either supporting your commitments or quietly sabotaging them.”
It’s something we’ve been thinking a lot about lately — honestly, enough that we ended up filming a whole video series unpacking it. If you preorder The Courage to Commit, you’ll get access to those behind-the-scenes conversations and the deeper “why” behind what we’re learning. It’s only available before 6/9!
But here’s how this all actually plays out:
By evening, after a full day of decisions, you’ve got nothing left. So you default to whatever requires the least energy.
Planning meals ahead of time has been one of the biggest defaults we’ve changed!
So we started designing our defaults. Moved the TV out of the main family space. Put Andrew’s guitar where he’d trip over it.
Even started thinking about how our home itself can create moments together — spaces that invite us to play, move, and be off our phones. Especially activities outside as a family!
We made the path of least resistance lead toward connection instead of distraction.
This isn’t a home organization tip — it’s a life strategy.
Put the book on your nightstand and the phone charger in another room. Lay your workout clothes out right next to your bed so you see them right away. Delete the apps that steal your first 20 minutes
The most disciplined people you know aren’t operating on superior willpower. They’ve designed their environments so the right choice is the easy choice.
What’s one default in your daily life that’s working against you? Reply and tell us. We all have one.
—Shawn & Andrew
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