We all have things we don’t want to do no matter what. Some
are simple yet time consuming jobs such as housework whilst others are
far more complex. Having just sent off an assignment for my current course I
now have a smile on my face… I say ‘now.’ Actually, I put it there this morning
having decided to take a new approach, the age old approach that if you have to
do something you may as well do it willingly.
That however is only part of the story. The fact is, we have
choices. We can do or delay. When we ‘do,’ the task is soon out of the way and this frees
our mind to focus on more pleasurable things. When we delay, the task becomes
burdensome, growing in front of our eyes and increasing our resistance. We know that we cannot have true peace of mind whilst it still looms large because our subconscious mind is continually aware of it!
QUESTION: Given that we are resisting, what can we do to
improve the situation?
ANSWER: Change our attitude towards the task.
This is not as hard as you might think; it’s a matter of
practice. We often take on roles in life- so take on a role by pretending that
you are THE person who loves this task! The mind is an awesome tool, it's powers very persuasive.
Look at the task and identify the positive aspects- take washing for example. Buy
powders and conditioners that smell good and work well. Try taking a pride in
it. Sort the washing out in preparation and pre-soak or remove stains. Select
the right cycle rather than jabbing the buttons on the machine and switching it on! Try following the
entire washing/drying process in this manner and you will be rewarded by having
clothes that smell nice and remain in good condition. A simple example but the principles
apply to every project whatever the scale.
Large tasks can be break them
down into bite sized pieces. Where possible, it is good to deal with the things you least like first,
again with thoroughness and a positive attitude. This leaves us with more time to do our favourite things. It will also improve performance overall and show dedication which increases your motivation. Hard tasks are challenges and we need to learn to love a challenge! You will also find that the more effort you put in the more rewarding a task becomes-the better we do things the
better we feel about them which creates good vibrations and improves mental
well-being.
Where possible, seek the help of others even if it is simply to provide encouragement. There are tasks that can be performed in groups or alongside others.
Provided not to many distractions are created this can add to the enjoyment and help
you do things more quickly.
Ultimately we have to do some things in life whether we want
to or not, so why make it hard on yourself and spoil your days with things
hanging over your head? Take it, deal with it and enjoy it. This is the Mary Poppins Principle and if you can add a spoonful or two of sugar everything becomes sweeeet!! After all, things are usually
far better than we anticipate and the harder the task, the more rewarding it
tends to be.
Jaz McKenzie
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