We don’t need motivation for the things we want to do…
We’re already doing them!!
So maybe the best way to get things done is to connect with the reasons why they’re important to us?
Have affirmations had their day?
A far more effective way to motivate yourself, isn’t to tell yourself some powerful, positive statement, that isn’t true (at least, not yet!), is to ask yourself a question.
So instead of I will eat until I’m 80% full, or I will run for 20 minutes, or I will go to be at 11.00pm tonight.
Ask yourself, will I eat until I’m 80% full? Will I run for 20 minutes? Will I go to bed at 11.00pm tonight?
This approach is shown to increase our core motivation.
Of course the way we talk to ourselves makes all the difference.
Dr John Demartini said, “When we talk to ourselves, someone very important is listening!”
How true!
Hi Lysette.
Good blog 🙂
The other linguistic thing I heard is to say “I don’t eat beyond 80% full” rather than say “I won’t eat beyond 80% full”
It puts the statement at an identity level rather than a behavioural level, and our minds know that identity is far less flexible than behaviour.
Cheers, Paul
Good catch, Paul! You can probably tell, I’m not a great fan of positive affirmations – there are much less painful and much quicker ways of making a new habit automatic. Thanks for pointing out the difference between won’t and don’t. You’re right, of course. It’s important to give the unconscious mind a message it has a fighting chance of responding constructively to!