Do you ever find yourself asking “Why am I doing that again?”

or perhaps, “Why am I not doing that again?”

“Why can’t I just knuckle down and make it happen???”

This utterly pointless conversation is exactly where I found myself last night.  The answers were not especially inspiring or supportive.

Certainly not the sort of responses that would compel me to take action:

“It must not be important enough… you don’t have enough pain.”

“You’re just lazy.”

“You’re not as motivated, or driven, or as intelligent as such and such…”

The thing is if you ask a poor quality question you’ll get a poor quality answer.

And Yes, you will always get an answer.

Your Unconscious Mind LOVES questions.

If you ask it a question it will go hunting for evidence & won’t stop till it gets it. It’s loyal, for better or for worse.

 

The simple solution is to reframe your questions along the lines of “HOW CAN I make it easier for me to do this/not do this next time?”

It gets your mind fired up in problem fixing mode rather than fixated on pointing out your problems.

 

=> Perhaps the task that keeps getting bumped off your to do list needs to be given priority at the beginning of your day?

When you have a full discipline tank.  (I wrote about dominating the weight loss discipline game here)

=> Or maybe it’s time to admit that you need help with this task?

And ask for that help today.

=> Possibly just setting a time to start and a time limit to stick to it for is the answer.

Ok, what time and for how long?

=> Or maybe you’ll respond best to a reward for completing the task.

What is your specific criteria for success and how will you reward yourself?

=> Finally, are you a more stick focused person and the threat of punishment is the greater fuel to light the fire under your current inaction.

Ok, what is the pain (or punishment) that will have most impact on getting you to take action right now?

 

I’m going the full tank of discipline option.  Looking at what I always get done and what I never manage, it has nothing to do with what is hardest, or what takes longest or what delivers the best result.  It simply comes down to what I prioritise early in the day.

What ever gets that prime full discipline – full focus position is going to get done.

There’s only so much prime time though right?

I imagine you have some old habits hogging your prime discipline time that you feel confident are still going to get done later in the day… they’re locked and loaded… and they can make way for the new habit you’re making.

So, if you’ve been asking something like: “Why can’t I stick to a consistent training & eating plan?” or “Why is weight loss so hard?”

Try instead asking yourself: “HOW CAN I be even more focused on living a healthy day every day?” and see what solutions your loyal unconscious mind delivers.