Over the past few months, I’ve become much more aware of my habits and the mannerisms of others, thanks largely in part to a psychology of the self class I took my last semester at college.
It was hands down the best class I took while at St. Joe’s… the content was relevant (what is more pertinent than yourself?) and my teacher, Dr. Chapman, was one of the warmest and most caring teachers I ever had the pleasure of learning from.
To me, knowing how you process your surroundings and interpret information means that you should at least have an idea of how other people do the same tasks.
It gives you a whole new view on reality.
Being overly self-aware about these kinds of things is not necessarily a blessing (as evidenced by people’s efforts to thwart themselves from reality through the use of television, drugs, alcohol, etc…) but it has allowed me to increase my ability to get things done.
I began to realize that there are two words that stop me dead in my tracks…
… they stop me from reaching my goals
… they wipe out my plans for the future
… and they may be killing your dreams too.
Ready to hear them?
(You are not going to like this…)
“Might” and “Maybe.”
They are the two words that are plaguing the nation… quite possibly the world.
Don’t believe me?
“I might go on a diet.”
“Maybe I’ll start working on that project.”
“I might get organized.”
“Maybe I’ll start getting in shape today.”
“Maybe I’ll do this. I might do that.”
…
Drop it. Cut those two words from your vocabulary.
Even if you aren’t verbally communicating the M-words, I know they are running through your head all day when trying to make decisions.
They are such wishy-washy declarations of your intentions… either you are doing something or you are not.
The uncertainty of maybe and might will get you nowhere. You need to make commitments every once in a while.
And get this…
Doing what you want (and often need) to do is not always easy.
In fact, it’s often hard!
But if you’re content to settle for mediocrity, then you might want to forget you ever read this.
(Did you catch what I did there?)
Just try it for one day: eliminate might and maybe and see what happens… post a comment if it has an impact on your daily routine.
