(motivation)
We’ve all had times when we just couldn’t seem to get started.
A force compels us to stay in our current position.
Immobilized…ineffective…staying with the current safe state of affairs.
We set a goal, visualize the results, but remain at arms length
from implementing the steps necessary to reach the goal.
A transparent barrier may exist,similar to a force field from a science fiction movie.
We see through the barrier, and all that could be,if we could just get past it.
The barrier is largely a mental construct.
If we could just force ourselves to take the first step to push past it,we would see it is largely a mirage,easily penetrated after we move toward, through and past it.
A similar barrier was encountered by the first attempts at supersonic flight.
The sound barrier had never been broken before Chuck Yeager piloted the X-1 past it in 1947.
Many people said it was impossible, but with the proper technology,Yeager reported, as the aircraft approached the sound barrier,he was experiencing buffeting, but as he accelerated and flew past the barrier the buffeting smoothed out.
The barrier had been broken,paving the way for greater achievement in aviation and aeronautics. The “impenetrable” barrier had been shown to be very “penetrable”
Barrier type 1 results from not having the proper tools to get past the barrier.
A recent participant in one of my seminars,who is a conflict resolution counselor,was attempting to take more control of his personal and family life with time management and goal setting skills.
He had previously attempted many of these techniques over the years but was hitting a barrier effectively implementing them.
He practiced daily goal setting, had a personal mission statement,and had studied a good bit of literature related to achieving greater success.
Yet, he wasn’t achieving the results he wanted.
He could see where he wanted to go, had most of the equipment, but couldn’t get there.
At the seminar, I talked about the importance of weekly evaluations in the goal setting process, and how important they are to achieving success.
I talked with him a month or so later, and he was very excited because he now was achieving much more success by simply adding this step to his process.
With him, weekly evaluations were his missing key.
This one additional technique allowed him to break through his barrier.
Sometimes a slight modification of your approach will be enough to rocket you past a seemingly impenetrable barrier.
Another type of barrier, barrier type 2, exists for most of us.
With this type of barrier, we have all the equipment,and know the correct approach, but we simply don’t take action.
We allow inertia to rule.
A great example is with exercise.
We know by exercising our bodies, we will be healthier and feel better.
We have all the equipment we need.
We can just walk or run if need be, but it’s very difficult to get started.
Even those who start, many times don’t stick with it past a few weeks.
These people who make it a few week spoke their head and maybe an arm or two through the barrier,but fall back without ever getting past it,and never reach a stage where the true physical and mental rewards that become self-reinforcing are felt.
I know a lot about the exercise barrier.
As a person who has faithfully worked out for many years,including long runs, weights, and demanding outdoor sports.
I still encounter this barrier every day.
Almost every time I get ready to workout, I dread it.
But, I do it.
Most of the time, I know I will feel great afterward and that I will be healthier as a result, and it’s strong enough motivation,but some days, when the weather is bad outside
and I know I need to run, I fail to find the motivation.
My secret is to tell myself first:
“Well, I’ll just put my running shoes on and walk around the house a little.”
I’ll put my running shoes on.
Then I tell myself:
“Well, I think I’ll go outside and walk to check the mail.”
I’ll do it.
Then, after I’ve done this, I’ll tell myself:
“Maybe I’ll run for a mile.”
After the first mile, I’m generally feeling really good and tell myself:
“Maybe I’ll run another mile.”
Pretty soon my 5 mile run is complete.
What’s the key to the exercise type barrier?
Taking some immediate action toward the desired goal.
The action can be small, but small actions built on top of small actions lead to large action.
Pretty soon, a barrier is broken, and the turbulence the buffeting leading to the barrier smoothes out,and you pass into a new area of experience that is fulfilling and rewarding.
But there is also another type of barrier, barrier type 3.
This barrier is built from fear.
A story told by Patty Hansen illustrates this fear:
Two seeds lay in the ground.
The first seed wanted to grow and spread its leaves and flowers.
It wanted to enjoy the sunshine and the fresh air.
The second seed thought of all of the barriers that it faced if it grew.
It was scary to think about sprouting roots that would penetrate down into the deep, dark unknown ground below.
It was scary to think about pushing through the hard soil above.
It could damage it’s petals.
I was scary thinking about breaking through the soil and exposing itself to dangers such as a child picking it,or a snail eating its leaves.
So the second seed waited,and a chicken scratching around in the ground found it and ate it,while the first seed broke through the ground and enjoyed its beautiful new surroundings
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As is a tale, so is life not how long it is but how good it is, what matters
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