Welcome to Motivational Mondays, your weekly PEP (Proactive, Empowered, Performance) talks with Mark Kent.
Have you taken the time to reflect upon the Procrastinators and Saboteurs code?
Have you realized any tendencies (thoughts and behaviours) that were associated with aspects of the code?
Like most people we tend to procrastinate occasionally, however when these tendencies evolve into chronic procrastination then you can experience low motivation, poor productivity and diminished self worth.
To feel empowered we must develop a sense of mastery over our emotions, behaviours, relationships, and above all our environment. Consequently identifying habitual patterns of thoughts associated with poor motivation and the inability to stay task focused is crucial in breaking the code.
There is a linear relationship between thoughts eliciting emotions and emotions evoking behaviours. The challenge is not to focus initially upon changing behaviours but to try and identify specific emotions, which are likely manipulating your behaviours.
When you can identify specific thought patterns that drive your behaviours and replace them with more rational and empowered thoughts then you will achieve greater mastery over your emotions and self-defeating behaviours.
Today I will introduce the cognitive restructuring technique which will help you identify and change negative thought patterns associated with the Procrastinators Code, that will eventually promote closure driven thoughts and ultimately proactive behaviours that will increase your productivity and sense of control over the environment.
However it is necessary to understand that habitual procrastination is linked to low self esteem (sense of intrinsic worth, and purpose in life) Subconsciously, you may not feel deserving of success, respect, and control over your life.
You may have unknowingly evolved into codependent, dysfunctional relationships where there is little support or expectation for self-empowerment. Likes attract and this is true especially when it comes to self-esteem.
Nevertheless when it comes to personal development the human mind and spirit can rise above and effectively change sabotaging behaviours when it is infused with, KNOWLEDGE, SUPPORT and GUIDANCE.
Your goal is to check, challenge, control, and create thought patterns that heretofore have gone unrecognized. This is a powerful technique, which does not require a lot of intensity, just consistent application over time.
Lets look at the Procrastinators Code and replace them with empowered thoughts that will promote greater success in sustaining motivation and completing tasks.
1) I RESIST CHANGE AND UN-FORSEEN EVENTS.
Lets face it if plan A always worked out we wouldn't have an alphabet. Think plan B.
B is for blessed, who are the flexible - for they don't get bent out of shape.
It may be unfortunate things didn't go your way but it's not catastrophic. As well there is always a hidden meaning and opportunity in unplanned events. (Serendipity) Step back and realize there is a lot of room and flexibility for plan B to Z and the universe offers us these options more so than the belief that plan A must always work out with a no option clause.
2) EVERYTHING I DO MUST MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND I MUST TAKE EVERYTHING SERIOUS.
It is easy to see how this thought can create exhaustion and suppress emotional wellbeing .As well this thought can create avoidance behaviours when it may not be possible to excel in every endeavour.
Remember you are not a human doing but a human being with intrinsic worth regardless of your accomplishments. Ease up and accept that the universe is forgiving and accommodating and will receive you regardless whether you excel at everything or not.
Be willing to occasionally accept that average is ok in some things and the rewards of being more relaxed, and having fun. Will go a long way to economizing energy and sustaining effort over the long haul.
3) I MUST TAKE CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO ME.
This thought is driven by insecurities and creates vigilance and an inability to let go. As well it promotes workaholic tendencies and a belief that you are somehow responsible for events that you have no responsibility for or control over. This can have a demoralizing impact upon your psychic and promote guilt and compensatory behaviours.
As well it is easy to see a cycle of codependency and how others in your life will expect you to take on responsibilities that really aren't yours.
It's important to challenge this assumption by asking whether the universe revolves around my standards and me. Am I really improving others and myself by taking total responsibility and doing everything for others?
Chances are you will be more productive if you focus your attention on issues you have control over and responsibility for. Ask whether you would be more efficient with your time by letting go occasionally and enjoying the moment instead of compulsions over the outcome.
This will relieve self-imposed stress, uplift your spirit and allow for positive energy to sustain motivation.
4) I WORK BEST UNDER PRESSURE.
You may have heard this statement and possibly said it yourself. When this thought is perpetuated as a work ethic it can create a lot of self-induced stress. The notion that somehow your performance is better by waiting until consequential motivation sets in is a myth. (See Motivational Mondays) this can create undue anxiety which can be short term motivation but in the long run can cause demoralization, especially if there are the inevitable times you will not always rise to the occasion.
Besides what is the advantage of putting tasks off just to prove you do work best under pressure? Lets face it what does work best under pressure is a blood pressure cuff.
One way to reduce the propensity towards using pressure as a motivator is to ask yourself: “what can I accomplish when I am stressed that I cannot do if I am not?” Try to look at larger projects as a series of smaller specific tasks just as you would look at the larger task. Get onto the task early and rely upon inertia and the action first principle to carry you through. This will reduce angst, negative motivation and promote a greater sense of personal productivity and empowerment.
Next week I will discus how to reconstruct the remaining 4 codes of procrastination.
If you have a friend or colleague that you believe would enjoy and benefit from Motivational Mondays then just submit their email address to my site and they will automatically receive this free information, how awesome is that.
Thanks for the opportunity to serve you.
To your productivity, empowerment and motivation.
Mark
