| You remember the song Feelings. At one time | | | | same old thing. We need to remind ourselves |
| you heard it everywhere. That was the problem. | | | | about why we do what we do, especially if we |
| We heard it so often it bored us. We felt bored. | | | | chose to do something because of our love for it. |
| So much of what we do is determined by how | | | | Take time out to just sit and relive those happy |
| we feel. "I don't feel like working. I don't feel like | | | | moments. Actually feel what you felt, think the |
| writing, I don't feel like playing music." Why? | | | | words and see the events as you saw them. |
| Because I'm bored. Because I don't want to | | | | Bathe in the glow of those feelings. Be there |
| experience the same old feeling I get when I do | | | | hearing the congratulations you received. |
| these activities. I already know how I feel doing | | | | It is so easy in a moment to do something that |
| these and they are not new feelings. | | | | gives us instant pleasure. It depends on what we |
| Where is my inner voice on days like this. I rely | | | | tell ourselves, on how we frame our reasons for |
| so much on it. Somehow the novelty of | | | | doing something. For example, we may be |
| discovering my inner voice, the one that tells me | | | | working to get to our ideal weight. Losing weight |
| what to write, has worn off. That high, that a-ha | | | | requires that we control how much we eat each |
| feeling of accomplishment, that we got when we | | | | day and how much exercise we get each day. |
| first started doing something new has lost its | | | | But eating that extra chocolate bar gives us |
| shine. | | | | instant pleasure. Unless we can convince ourselves |
| This is the wall, the resistance we meet when we | | | | to put off that instant gratification we will never |
| are about to master a skill. If we give up now, all | | | | reach our long term goal. |
| the work we have done, all the seeds we have | | | | When you are tempted to eat that chocolate bar |
| sown will be for nothing. We are about to make | | | | or drink that bottle of fizzy sugar-water remind |
| the skill second nature, to write it into our | | | | yourself how you will feel when you fit into that |
| unconscious mind. Once there we can rely on | | | | fancy tailor-cut outfit you want to wear. Imagine, |
| duplicating it without conscious effort. We are | | | | seeing it clearly in your mind, the pleasure you will |
| about to make the skill a part of who we are. | | | | feel when your friends admire you. See yourself |
| We need to notice how our feelings changed. | | | | in the mirror how you look and feel when you are |
| Naturally our body is adapting because it cannot | | | | at your ideal weight. |
| tolerate that high feeling forever. They went | | | | Feelings. How we feel about ourselves, how we |
| from elation at learning a new skill to acceptance | | | | feel about doing something, how we feel about |
| of the skill then finally to unconscious performance | | | | mastering a skill and how we feel about taking |
| of the skill. | | | | control of our minds and body, is the most |
| Our conscious mind wants to be aware of those | | | | important way we get to do what we want. Our |
| highs. It loves being aware of what is new. Once | | | | feelings flow from what we tell ourselves about |
| we absorb the skill it is now longer new. Our | | | | the world and about our being. So be aware of |
| motivation has to change. We need to find a | | | | your inner voice, what you are saying and how |
| higher level of motivation. We need to feel our | | | | you convince yourself to do or not do things. |
| whole being as successful. | | | | I finally had to do this myself this morning. I had |
| Do you remember when you got your first | | | | to remind myself that I love to write, that I love |
| paying job? Didn't it give you a feeling of | | | | to think about how the mind works, that I have |
| independence? You were the king of your world. | | | | feelings of pleasure even though at some level I |
| You could do anything now that you had money | | | | was bored with doing the same old thing. I |
| to spend. Take another example. Remember | | | | reminded myself that I committed to writing this |
| when you had that first promotion? You felt that | | | | blog. If I want readers like yourself to keep |
| you were finally recognized, you were on your | | | | coming back, I need to constantly write |
| way to becoming a manager or even president of | | | | something new. |
| the company. Think about your work now. Is it | | | | Feelings figure in everything we do. Sometimes |
| still as exciting as that first moment? | | | | we just need a reminder of how pleasant they |
| Remembering our successes is very important, | | | | are. |
| especially when we feel we can't go on doing the | | | | |