Even starting simple tasks can sometimes overwhelm us.
Learn how to bring yourself to The Edge of Action and support your decision, no matter which way you go.
Read on…
I’ve just got to mail this letter. But I’m not doing it. I don’t get it. Why is this so hard?
There’s a often a fight within the self. A part of us wants to do a thing. Meanwhile, nearly inexplicably, “I don’t wanna” feelings compete.
When it’s so hard to get ourselves to do something, especially when it would otherwise seem so simple, we might wonder if there’s another way.
Some people try to impose false deadlines. Others put their reputation on the line by publicly announcing what they’ll do. Others yet try rigging various systems of rewards and punishments.
But there’s one method by which people try to “trick” themselves that isn’t actually a trick. In fact, it hints at a very powerful and useful method of approaching work.
The oft-used example goes something like this…
If you want to start jogging but are having trouble getting yourself to do so, put on your exercise outfit and stand outside. Take a step. Pretty soon, you may find yourself jogging.
It does work.
In one sense ,it seems like a trick. You appear to have bypassed the most difficult starting phase and, perhaps, woken up in the doing phase.
However, when we take apart the example, we can realize that it doesn’t have to be a trick.
So how is this not a trick?
What we’ve done is brought ourselves to the Edge of Action. In so doing, we are supporting our decision, no matter which way we go – jog or not. Either direction is equally easy to implement.
So long as we remember, *we have every right not to jog*, we are not tricking ourselves. By going outside, we only removed the impediments of an action.
The same may be true of most any of our work. In the case of the letter, it might be as simple as being with the next action, realizing the decision is ours along the way.
– Kourosh
PS Any relationship worth its salt is built on honesty. That includes our relationship with our self. Waves of Focus – Guiding the Wandering Mind is built on finding ways to be honest with ourselves and to learn ways to care for our future selves.
