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Personal Journal - Day 15: The Silent Killer
10 years ago
People often get caught up with everyday things. We all have to work, pay our bills, get things done… It’s not that we don’t have the time; most of us are spending our time with things like TV, Video Games, or other such activities instead of doing what we should be doing. In other words, we’re procrastinating.
The Silent Killer: Conditioning ourselves to follow through.
We all know what this is. We generally don’t pay attention to it at the beginning because it’s small. At least, it’s a small issue until it becomes a habit. Once procrastination has become a habitual response (also known as a ritual), we will generally take notice of the issue.
So, today covers how we can deal with procrastination, and how we can create consistent action towards our goals.
The Power of Rituals - Success conditioning:
People’s lives and everyday actions are controlled by personal rituals. These rituals are little more than a “trained response” to outside stimuli. How we react to certain stimuli in particular. Rituals are pretty much a series of actions and thoughts that set one to be in a certain state.
Throughout life we get caught in a series of rituals. Those rituals control and direct our lives, generally speaking. Rituals we run daily are ones that control us the most. Most people don’t like going to work, but why, exactly? It’s not the idea that gets to people, I can tell you that much…it’s the expectations. “I hate Mondays,” is a good example here. I personally don’t like them because that means I have to wake up at a certain time so I can GET to work on time. Otherwise, though…they’re just the same as any other day. I just enjoy picking on a day. In reality, Monday is probably the best day of my work-week. The one person that drives me up the wall DOESN’T WORK! HAH!
People generally ask questions like: “Why do I have to go to work?!” when they get up, or “what kind of BS am I going to have to put up with TODAY?” before work. Naturally, these questions are rather bad questions to be asking if you want to have a good day at work, or even want to be able to get through a day of work without the stress. These questions have been asked SO MANY TIMES that it becomes habitual.
There’s a quote here: “Sow a thought, reap an action, sow an action reap a habit, sow a se tof habits reap a character, sow a character reap your destiny.” ~unknown
Rituals are consistent thought patterns that are creating habits and character, and also driving your destiny. These drive us to feel a certain way on a consistent basis.
So if we know about these rituals we run, and we don’t like them, then how can we condition new rituals, and how can we make it so that these new rituals will pull us towards our goals?
Well, another question first: What are some rituals that we’re aware of consciously? Can’t think of any? Well, what are some emotions we experience regularly that are less than resourceful? Are these “less than resourceful” emotions affecting life quality? Actions? Destiny? Obviously: Yes.
In order to figure out what our rituals are, we need to be asking: What is it that is causing this reaction in the first place? What “triggers” the ritual to be run? And what are we doing to feel that way?
ANY emotional state we are in we have to work at. We need to hold our body in a certain way, view the world in a particular manner, breathe, and even talk in a particular fashion in order to feel any emotion strongly.
People say “I Am ______” turning emotions into an identity. Beliefs control your ability, words reflect your beliefs. If you say “I can’t” then you’re right. If you say, “I can” you’re also right. Keep in mind though, that while words reflect your beliefs, you don’t always have to SAY what you believe specifically, but if you say it enough and with enough conviction, you’ll gradually begin to gravitate towards that particular belief.
Going back to the main topic at hand; procrastination is nothing but a ritual as well. How? Well, when someone procrastinates, what happens? I personally sit back and think of how taking action will be more painful than not taking action. I come up with all these reasons why I’m scared to take the actions I KNOW would result in a better life. I have to ask specific questions that make it difficult for me to actually take that action I SHOULD take.
For example…I’ve been procrastinating on my job application, by all accounts. Why? Well, I don’t want to mess up the application; it’s kind of a big deal for me. I do actually want to get that position! I’m scared that I could apply and I won’t get the job, or worse, I won’t even get an interview. That’s similar to getting an F on an assignment for crying out loud. At least if I got an interview I’d have gotten SOMETHING right, maybe? But why else? I really want to make sure I sound professional when I write it up. I want to make sure that I have put forth everything I have in order to get this job.
The easiest way to stop procrastination is to procrastinate in procrastinating! Yes, it sounds stupid, but think about this… If you already procrastinate, then you already know how to do it. If you’re really GOOD at procrastinating, then you’ve got a hell of a recipe for it. That ritual can be applied to the procrastination instead of whatever it is you should be doing after all. “I can procrastinate later, right now I’m busy.” Value what you should be doing above what you could be doing.
Take control and figure out HOW we do things instead of letting your mind sit on “autopilot” for example. (That’s kind of the whole point behind my following this whole program thing…I’ll post a PDF in my scraps at the end of this…it’s getting to be too much to toss into most of my journal posts). Break the ritual and condition yourself to put off procrastination. Think of all the painful consequences of procrastinating instead and what it would cost you. Figure out how your life would improve if you just took that action.
Exercise for today: How do you start off “procrastination?” instead of “Do I have to?” Maybe, “I want to…”
1: how to create state?
2: If you don’t, what is the price?
3: If you did take action, how would that make it better?
4: Develop a habit of saying “Want to” instead of “want to”
5: Even if you don’t feel like doing it, develop a physical habit to break through. Use physical change to alter state.
Review negative emotions (At least 5)
How are they triggered? What needs to happen for you to get into these? Develop a pattern interrupt for each one.
Review positive emotions (At least 5)
How can you trigger these more often? What needs to happen for these to be triggered?
The Silent Killer: Conditioning ourselves to follow through.
We all know what this is. We generally don’t pay attention to it at the beginning because it’s small. At least, it’s a small issue until it becomes a habit. Once procrastination has become a habitual response (also known as a ritual), we will generally take notice of the issue.
So, today covers how we can deal with procrastination, and how we can create consistent action towards our goals.
The Power of Rituals - Success conditioning:
People’s lives and everyday actions are controlled by personal rituals. These rituals are little more than a “trained response” to outside stimuli. How we react to certain stimuli in particular. Rituals are pretty much a series of actions and thoughts that set one to be in a certain state.
Throughout life we get caught in a series of rituals. Those rituals control and direct our lives, generally speaking. Rituals we run daily are ones that control us the most. Most people don’t like going to work, but why, exactly? It’s not the idea that gets to people, I can tell you that much…it’s the expectations. “I hate Mondays,” is a good example here. I personally don’t like them because that means I have to wake up at a certain time so I can GET to work on time. Otherwise, though…they’re just the same as any other day. I just enjoy picking on a day. In reality, Monday is probably the best day of my work-week. The one person that drives me up the wall DOESN’T WORK! HAH!
People generally ask questions like: “Why do I have to go to work?!” when they get up, or “what kind of BS am I going to have to put up with TODAY?” before work. Naturally, these questions are rather bad questions to be asking if you want to have a good day at work, or even want to be able to get through a day of work without the stress. These questions have been asked SO MANY TIMES that it becomes habitual.
There’s a quote here: “Sow a thought, reap an action, sow an action reap a habit, sow a se tof habits reap a character, sow a character reap your destiny.” ~unknown
Rituals are consistent thought patterns that are creating habits and character, and also driving your destiny. These drive us to feel a certain way on a consistent basis.
So if we know about these rituals we run, and we don’t like them, then how can we condition new rituals, and how can we make it so that these new rituals will pull us towards our goals?
Well, another question first: What are some rituals that we’re aware of consciously? Can’t think of any? Well, what are some emotions we experience regularly that are less than resourceful? Are these “less than resourceful” emotions affecting life quality? Actions? Destiny? Obviously: Yes.
In order to figure out what our rituals are, we need to be asking: What is it that is causing this reaction in the first place? What “triggers” the ritual to be run? And what are we doing to feel that way?
ANY emotional state we are in we have to work at. We need to hold our body in a certain way, view the world in a particular manner, breathe, and even talk in a particular fashion in order to feel any emotion strongly.
People say “I Am ______” turning emotions into an identity. Beliefs control your ability, words reflect your beliefs. If you say “I can’t” then you’re right. If you say, “I can” you’re also right. Keep in mind though, that while words reflect your beliefs, you don’t always have to SAY what you believe specifically, but if you say it enough and with enough conviction, you’ll gradually begin to gravitate towards that particular belief.
Going back to the main topic at hand; procrastination is nothing but a ritual as well. How? Well, when someone procrastinates, what happens? I personally sit back and think of how taking action will be more painful than not taking action. I come up with all these reasons why I’m scared to take the actions I KNOW would result in a better life. I have to ask specific questions that make it difficult for me to actually take that action I SHOULD take.
For example…I’ve been procrastinating on my job application, by all accounts. Why? Well, I don’t want to mess up the application; it’s kind of a big deal for me. I do actually want to get that position! I’m scared that I could apply and I won’t get the job, or worse, I won’t even get an interview. That’s similar to getting an F on an assignment for crying out loud. At least if I got an interview I’d have gotten SOMETHING right, maybe? But why else? I really want to make sure I sound professional when I write it up. I want to make sure that I have put forth everything I have in order to get this job.
The easiest way to stop procrastination is to procrastinate in procrastinating! Yes, it sounds stupid, but think about this… If you already procrastinate, then you already know how to do it. If you’re really GOOD at procrastinating, then you’ve got a hell of a recipe for it. That ritual can be applied to the procrastination instead of whatever it is you should be doing after all. “I can procrastinate later, right now I’m busy.” Value what you should be doing above what you could be doing.
Take control and figure out HOW we do things instead of letting your mind sit on “autopilot” for example. (That’s kind of the whole point behind my following this whole program thing…I’ll post a PDF in my scraps at the end of this…it’s getting to be too much to toss into most of my journal posts). Break the ritual and condition yourself to put off procrastination. Think of all the painful consequences of procrastinating instead and what it would cost you. Figure out how your life would improve if you just took that action.
Exercise for today: How do you start off “procrastination?” instead of “Do I have to?” Maybe, “I want to…”
1: how to create state?
2: If you don’t, what is the price?
3: If you did take action, how would that make it better?
4: Develop a habit of saying “Want to” instead of “want to”
5: Even if you don’t feel like doing it, develop a physical habit to break through. Use physical change to alter state.
Review negative emotions (At least 5)
How are they triggered? What needs to happen for you to get into these? Develop a pattern interrupt for each one.
Review positive emotions (At least 5)
How can you trigger these more often? What needs to happen for these to be triggered?
