How many times have you wanted to start exercising or eating right and then reasoned yourself out of it, “It’s too time consuming”, “It’s hot/cold/raining/sunny/windy”, “I’d prefer to do it in the afternoon/morning/evening”? Some may call it logic, but sometimes we are simply getting in our own way.
Our brain is programmed to protect us from harm and therefore creates a ‘hard drive’ full of experiences that we have perceived as negative and sends chemical and habitual warning signals to prevent us from entering that same danger or uncomfortable situation. This can certainly be useful – we learn not to pick up burning wood, we learn that we should be careful about choosing to say rude things about people. On the other hand, we also build walls of doubt around our ability and relatively safe (sometimes important) situations. Take joining a new exercise class for example, we hear many people talk about how nervous they are to start/they don’t know anyone/they don’t have the skills. In itself, joining a new exercise class poses little to no harm or threat to you – but the negative momentum that is surrounding the experience in the mind far outweighs the actual risk. In situations like these, we need to face our fears both logically and emotionally. Look at your emotions objectively (imagine yourself stepping outside of yourself and watching you do the task that causes you anxiety) and ask:
Why do you think you feel these emotions?
How legitimate are these fears?
What is the real risk that is posed here?
What is the worst that could happen?
What is the likelihood of the ‘worst’ happening?
What would be the positive effects if you completed this task?
How would you feel if you completed it well? (Really give this one some time and imagine yourself just after you have completed the task, celebrating in your own way).
It is important to give weight and recognition to the role that the mind plays in task avoidance. Writing down the answers to these questions and really giving yourself some time to imagine yourself completing your task leads to a replacement of the negative emotions that surround the experience and builds your motivation to complete or face it. Give this a go one day this week – even if it a very small thing that you find yourself hesitating to do.
I even did it when I was about to write this blog post – so easy to doubt yourself and avoid doing it! C’mon – get into the habit of achieving small victories everyday! Post your progress when you’ve done something you would usually hesitate to do!
LLUMI Australia 