Four weeks ago, I started a program to move my thinking into a better direction. When you do something like this, you notice the little voices in your head. Rather than just running commentary, you notice what they are saying.
This morning my surgery was canceled, so I found myself with some unexpected free time. I pulled out my laptop, excited to work on these emails. I have the apple noise canceling headphones, and I LOVE them. I pop those in, pull up focas@will, and I’m off to the races. Only I didn’t have my headphones…ARGGGG!!!!!!!
When I was in PA school, long before iPhones, I would use earplugs to block out the noises around me. I’m easily distracted, and I can’t get into deep focus with the normal noises of humans nearby.
So what happened the second I realized I didn’t have my peace-creating headphones? Without skipping a beat, I started blaming my son. He was watching loud people yelling on YouTube (Mr beast, Dude Perfect… all these shows of people just yelling really loud for effect), and I couldn’t concentrate. So, I grabbed my headphones.
Was it his fault? Nope. Not even close. It was 100% my fault.
I remember years ago my father in-law brought out a bunch of wine for us. I walked out into the garage and accidentally walked into several bottles of wine. When they fell, they smashed on the concrete floor and wine went everywhere.
Any guess as to what my first thought was?
“Who leaves wine in the middle of the floor? I can’t believe he did that.”
LOL
The guy did a really nice thing and brought me and my wife wine. I was the jerk who wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing.
Here’s the rub. Not catching that voice turn us into that person. It’s a slow process, but that voice turns you into whatever it says. You slowly, insidiously agree with it.
Keep that voice in check.
I’ve gone so far as to make myself do whatever I say I’m going to do in my head.
Meaning if I say to myself without thinking, “Oh I’ll clear the sink before bed tonight,” I’m now obliged to clearing the sink.
Sounds small, except you don’t realize how often you lie to yourself throughout the day. Tiny, small lies. Lies that you think don’t mean anything.
“I’ll get up at 6:00 am tomorrow,” and then you don’t.
“I’ll call my mom today,” and then you don’t.
It adds up.
How about, “I’ll study tonight after dinner?” I’ve got an easy solution to that one, so you’ll never miss that one again.
Get a copy of The Final Step. Put in 10-30 minutes, and check the box for “study after dinner.”
Just like that you start keeping your promises to yourself.
Brian Wallace
