Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Talking myself out of...

Over the past 6 months I've been working on yet another list. This one is compiled of ideas I've had about activities, places i want to visit, and thing's I've wanted to try in general and the thoughts that immediately follows them that ultimately disables me from actually fulfilling these idea. I'm sure I'm not the only one guilty of this...talking myself out of something. It's good to have a conscience in situations that are questionable and instead of being black and white they appear grey. That's not what I'm referring to. Rather, it pertains to times you may want to try something but your negative self talk immediately dismisses it. Your conquest is met with excuses and justifications as to why you shouldn't even attempt to make things happen. Because This process goes over so smoothly from initiation to conclusion without missing a beat and you even noticing it...until you have the idea once more. This is due to the fact that whatever you "believe" your brain instantly searches for its references to make it true. When this happens who's voice do you hear? There's always a voice, who's is it...your own? Society? An Authority figure? Perhaps your mother (they mean well but contrary to popular beliefs don't always know best)?
I'll share with you one of my own. I always badger myself about not exercising and being lazy. I'm just not willing to do all that it would take to get the results that i ultimately want. I trick myself into starting off slow and moving in the right direction by doing little things like drinking more water. I tell myself if i master my 8 cups a day I'll know within myself that I'm ready to get the ball rolling. I've never made it past that step. See i know myself well enough that i wasn't prepared to do the work from the jump, so i gave myself a way out. I talked myself out of it.
Right now, I'm simply writing the list. I want to bring to the forefront all the things i haven't been honest with myself about. The more time passes by the less things i add to the list each month. This process has helped me to discover things that defines me. Habits that makes me who i am, both the ones i like, dislike, and other i simply cannot accept. Through this process I've finally figured out how to create PERMANENT CHANGE. The ones that work best for me.
Just thought I'd share. What things would make your list? What kind of conversations are you having with yourself? Write them down. I bet a few that makes the list will surprise you.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

From Tragedy comes clearity...

Tragedy reveals real truth. We dread tragedy occuring in our own lives, but usually the times we survive our lives are instantly filled with new meaning. Has there ever been a time that we've had these revelations so dramatic from normal everyday occurances? Like an epiphany? Most likely not. Or if we have its often so minute that we tend to disreguard it. For myself, what i've come to realize is that tragedy, if nothing else is learned, often enlighten's us to the fact that time is not ours to waste. The younger we are the more entitled we feel to lengths of time. Don't wait for the inoppertune time to realize that time is a gift an asset that yields a return of value and should be invested and not spent like a liability (a liability only takes, never returns).