I hate being consistently stuck.
When mental blocks come storming in and I’m feeling stuck, staring at my phone waiting for the next distraction, and then sinisterly thankful.
Because I don’t have to work on what I should be doing.
Later, regret sinks in and I’m left painstakingly hating myself for wasting time not completing tasks for the day, yet again.
Why you’re consistently stuck, doesn’t make any sense, except to the sabotaging mind.
One book I credit for overcoming procrastination and the resistance inside of our mind is:
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
The War of Art talks about what stops us from doing what we long to do. It answers inner mysteries like, why do we sabotage ourselves? Why fear is good for us and how we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor. The War of Art is filled with tough love and has a no-nonsense approach that will inspire you to seize the potential of your life. This book is a great read for any creator, writer, artist, businessman, and entrepreneur.
Now what I’ve discovered for myself, which might not work for everyone.
Once and awhile, giving myself a pep talk in the mirror and being brutally honest to that sabotaging inner voice that doesn’t want to do the work, shuts that voice up.
Being brutally honest and owning up to mistakes gives us a relaxed demeanor that says, Yes I’ve been a lazy bum and I’m done procrastinating.
So here is what works for me.
- First: Being brutally honest with myself has been the ice-breaker to redirecting energy.
Walking up and looking into the mirror and being honest with myself first is super important to succeeding in any endeavor.
- Secondly: The power of questions
What kind of question I asked myself is next the next priority.
If I ask myself, What are my friends up to today? Before I’ve done the work, I know the work will never get done.
Instead if I ask, What is the one thing I will get done in this next hour to get me closer to my goals?
If we focus on an hour by hour basis, things begin to radically change.
- Thirdly: Simplicity gives way to greater focused energy
Years ago, I believed that I had to have the latest and greatest tools, tech, info-products, new software, gadgets, and books.
I had all the new stuff and was keeping up with Jones’, I felt great for a short time and instant gratification does that.
But all this belief did, of wanting to have all the new cool goodies was make me a constant dabbler and not a focused creator.
We all know how Steve Jobs wore one outfit for a long period of time so he could focus all his brain power on creating.
Same concept here, the less we have to think about the greater the power we give to our laser-like focus.
The less to worry about, the lighter our mental load will be is a much better way to reach goals.
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee
This quote is fitting.
Wish you the best and conquer resistance everyday!
Vidal Cisneos Jr.
P.S. Check me out on twitter and periscope @Visionary_Vidal