How to Love Doing Anything!

Posted on June 25, 2008
Filed Under Gratitude |

Sometimes it’s difficult to motivate yourself. I mean, let’s face it. Some tasks are just not that thrilling no matter which way you look at it.

Especially if they are what I call drudge work. Doing the books at the end of the month comes to the forefront of my mind. Sure it appeals to my logical mind. Can’t really mess up 1 + 1 = 2, now can you? (Yes, I know the answer is a loud and resounding YES but we have to move along here.) It’s still boring, time consuming and anything but electrifying!

Or how about sales? Yes, making a sale can be really exciting especially when you’ve closed a lot of deals that month. By then you’re on the gravy train and riding high. But what about the months you aren’t doing so well? It can be extremely difficult to pick up the phone or get out the door.

And what about working out? That’s what brought this subject to mind today in the first place. I started my thrice weekly workout this morning by groaning to myself about how much I hated doing it. And oh, it was so hard, why did I have to do it, it sucked and on and on the list went. Not surprisingly, I started thinking about ways to cut corners or just stopping the whole workout completely. I even tried working deals with myself - anything to keep from having to work out.

Then I realized I was behaving in a really self defeating manner. So, I switched my thinking. I started running thoughts through my brain like:

“I just love how exercising makes me feel so alive! I love to feel my body move and it feels so relaxed afterward. My head space goes up a bzillion notches and people seem so much nicer. I look better in my clothes and I feel better knowing I look better.” The lists just grows from there. Think of it as a spin off of the infamous gratitude list. Before I know it, I’m in the zone and feeling just fine, thank you very much!

So the next time you find it hard to get motivated, find out what drives you to do the stint in the first place. It could be avoiding the tax man, going on that dream vacation, feeling and looking better, the feel of a job well done, whatever. The longer the list the better. Then, when you find yourself in a whiney place like me this morning, you can turn it around by running this list through your head.

The task doesn’t get anymore breathtaking to perform but you feel better doing it and even better after it’s done. What more could you ask for!

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