I have a bad habit...worse even than watching someone pick their nose. My bad habit is saying I'm
going to do something but never getting around to doing it.
No...this is not the same as procrastination, when someone
deliberately find excuses for not doing something. I'm referring
to when I really want to do something but for one reason or another,
I find other things that are more important that need to be done
first. I have an extraordinarily long "to do" list. I am a
great list maker. I can rival the best of the best. Seems that I
can't complete the actions on my list as fast as I can add
them. So many goals, so little time.
Lately, I began
to realize why. When I have more things that need to be done than I
can possibly do, I get the choice of moving some projects higher and
some lower on my "to do" list. Like everyone
else, the actions on the top of my list get done, and those on the
bottom of my list get deferred.
I tend to place the items at the top of my "to do" list
that are urgent, important, and within my capability to do them. The
items that go to the bottom of my list are discretionary, less
important, and not within my capability to do them. This
prioritization system tells me something about myself. When I
continually push actions towards the bottom of the list, it must
mean that they aren't ready for prime time. Unfortunately,
if I keep putting actions towards the bottom of the list long
enough, they never get done. I have in effect, made a habit of
putting things that I am not ready to act on towards the bottom of
my list.
If I do this often enough, I need to take heed of the message I am
sending myself. I am saying that I am dreaming if I think I am going
to commit myself to these items that are forever at the bottom of my
priority list. Rather than continuing to fool myself, I need to take
them off and put them on another list called "Someday
I'll". I may add them to my current "to do" if
circumstance changes, but they are deferred until someday out in the
future. Once removed, I no longer need to feel guilty and
worthless for not acting on them. Once moved to a "Someday
I'll' list, I have consciously
chosen
to delay them until a better time. Not only do I feel better about
myself, but I don't have to make a conscious effort to fit them into
my busy schedule.
It is better to be brutally
honest than to continue to fool oneself into thinking that they are
going to pursue the goals that are not a good fit for them at the
present time. Elimination is the basis for living a simpler
and less stressful life. Most of us have enough of that already.
Negative Thoughts Cannot
Product Positive Results
Some people just seem to have a pessimistic nature who doubt that
good can come from anything. I don't want to be one of these people,
because I believe that negative thoughts cannot produce positive
results. I tend to believe the words of the Buddha who said,
"From evil must come evil and from good must come good."
In practical terms, this philosophy suggests that positive thoughts
and actions tend to produce positive results, and negative thoughts
and actions tend to produce negative results. If you believe in the
law of cause and effect, then every effect is due to its cause, and
for every cause, there is an effect. There is a powerful linkage
between whatever is precedent and what is antecedent.
The logic is similar when applied to thought, belief, or intent.
One's intent has a strong bearing on the outcome. So, if you want
good things to come to you - some people might call this the power
of attraction - then you must send out supporting thoughts in
advance so as to influence the course of events. Naturally, by
having positive thoughts, you will be inclined to take positive
actions that align with those positive thoughts. Positive actions
tend to be the leverage you need to get what you intend to get.
The next time you get a negative thought about the future you
desire, take the time to manage this erroneous thinking flaw and
convert the thought into its positive equivalent. Always lead the
future with positive intentions and positive thoughts. And then, if
you really want what you want, your motivation will induce you to
follow up desire with positive actions.
