I often use little exercises to help change my habits. This may
be reading certain texts for a month with a more productive way of
thinking. Currently I am testing out a small electronic device that
I wear on my belt. it vibrates at an interval I set at which point
I am reminded of a new habit or behaviour I wish to install. I will
share more if I find it valuable.
Habits are behaviours that we have become accustomed to doing
automatically. If we want great success we need to develop very
productive habits.
Below is an exercise from Psycho Cybernetics. The aim is to help
you change some habits. One area that really improves productivity
is being cheerful and happy. One source of happiness is how you
interpret situations ie what you choose to make them mean. Getting
into more productive habits is very helpful to general well being
and performance.
Becoming more is about working on the inside to achieve more on
the outside. So why not try this exercise for 30 days. And if you
are looking to be cheered up immediately you can always watch the
video at the foot of this email shared yesterday by Maurice Dimino
on his facebook page.
Habitually, you put on either your right shoe first or your left
shoe. If you have laces habitually, you tie your shoes by either
passing the right-hand lace around behind the left-hand lace, or
vice versa. Tomorrow morning determine which shoe you put on first
and how you tie your shoes. Now, consciously decide that for the
next 30 days you are going to form a new habit by putting on the
other shoe first and tying your laces in a different way. Now, each
morning as you decide to put on your shoes in a certain manner, let
this simple act serve as a reminder to change other habitual
ways of thinking, acting and feeling throughout that one day. Say
to yourself as you tie your shoes, "I am beginning the day in a new
and better way." Then, consciously decide that throughout the
day:
1. I will be as cheerful as possible.
2. I will try to feel and act a little more friendly toward
other people.
3. I am going to be a little less critical and a little more
tolerant of other people, their faults, failings and mistakes. I
will place the best possible interpretation upon their actions.
4. Insofar as possible, I am going to act as if success were
inevitable, and I already am the sort of personality I want to be.
I will practice "acting like" and "feeling like" this new
personality.
5. I will not let my own opinion color facts in a pessimistic or
negative way.
6. I will practice smiling at least three times during the
day.
7. Regardless of what happens, I will react as calmly and as
intelligently as possible.
8. I will ignore completely and close my mind to all those
pessimistic and negative "facts" which I can do nothing to
change.
Simple? Yes. But each of the above habitual ways of acting,
feeling, thinking does have beneficial and constructive influence
on your self-image. Act them out for 30 days. "Experience" them,
and see if worry, guilt, hostility have not been diminished and if
confidence has not been increased.
If you are looking for an 'Instant Cheer Up' here is a video
shared by Maurice Dimino on his facebook yesterday. It certainly
made me smile and stomp my foot (even though it is not my usual
musical taste).