Think of something you would really really love to do. You know, something that almost seems “impossible” right now. OK now, just let it marinate for a moment and then actually take notice of the thoughts that begin to show up.
For many, what stampedes in after the initial euphoria are all the reasons why this particular “thing” is not possible. You know, thoughts like…
- I don’t have the money or the income
- I just don’t have the time
- I don’t have the education or experience to be able to pull this off
The sad part is, these thoughts happen far more frequently than we realize. It’s almost like we are two people. There is that side of us that dreams big, that wants to do great things. But lurking in the background is that other you, your inner Grim thought Reaper, who always shows up uninvited, and slowly chokes the life out of your idea until it all but dies.
I won’t go all Sigmund Freud on you here about why we do this to ourselves, but we have a lifetime of dysfunction that has squeezed us into the person we are today. But it is never to late to reverse the process.
Can you smell what I am cooking here?
The winning formula…
The great news is we have all had moments in our lives were we laid a beat down to our inner reaper, you know, fleeting moments, where we slapped it silly like it was one of the 3 Stooges.
We just failed to recognize at that moment that we had done so, nor did we have the where-with-all to take note of how we managed to accomplish this feat.
But it can be manufactured on a regular basis if we become mindful of the process.
1. Remember thoughts are like dogs. Thoughts have a way of creeping in when you least expect it. Think of them like a family dog. They are told they can’t come in the bed at night and yet when you awake in the morning, there they are, spread-eagled on your bed, sound asleep.
2. Treat negative ideas like drunk friends. If you are thinking about something that is charting unmapped territory for you, be aware that sooner rather than later, negative thoughts are going to creep in. Experiment with strategies to haul these thoughts away.
For instance, picture them like drunk embarrassing friends at a party. And what do you do with them? You either put them in a cab and send them on their way or you bury them under all the coats in that one bedroom being used as the coat check . Either way, they are no longer around to ruin the party. Use the same such process (or something like that) with negative thoughts.
3. Focus like a cat. My cat (much to my displeasure) loves to hunt mice. He somehow feels they are a menace to society and that it is his job to rid us of their presence. When he finds one in hiding, he will literally sit for hours just waiting for it to come out so he can pounce. I can call him, shake his treat can, or bark like a dog, but nothing deters him from his mission.
Negative thoughts will try to distract you as well (minus the barking). Stay focused on what you want and ignore all the other delicious distractions that will certainly come your way.
4. Make it so number one. Captain Picard used to say that to the second in command in Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s great advice. Tell yourself you are going to make it so. Accept nothing less. Sure this sounds easy, but it works because you begin attracting those opportunities because that is what you are focused on.
Back when I was teaching, I was unable to get a week off school to attend a hockey tournament in Germany. I was initially disappointed, but I later had a moment where I said, “Screw it! I’m going to make this happen.” And a weird thing happened.
The following week I was playing basketball with a group of teachers. I happened to strike up a conversation with one of the teachers who also happened to be head of the union. I mentioned my dilemma about not being able to go on the trip, and he stated that there was a provision in the collective bargaining agreement that allowed time off for activities where you were representing your country (we were in fact representing Canada).
I went back armed with my new found knowledge and was given permission to go. I know for certain, that never would have happened if I hadn’t taken a stand to make it so.
So what dreams have your thoughts squashed? How can you resurrect them?
Thanks so much for being here. Keep fighting the good fight and remember: Quit letting your thoughts squash your dreams.
To ideas worth quitting,
Dean
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