Studies have shown that we are most motivated to take action when we are at one of two extremes. We are highly motivated to take action when we are in great discomfort and when we are very close to reaching our goal.
The discomfort of a bad situation will encourage us to take action to escape the pain we are experiencing. The excitement of being close to our goal will push us to the finish line.
Where we lack natural motivation is when we are somewhere in the middle. Things aren’t bad and things aren’t great. They are simply tolerable. When we are in this middle space we are far enough away from our goal that we don’t feel enthusiastic about reaching it AND, what is worse, we see the possibility of trying something new, failing and ending up in a worse situation.
When we are in this middle place we spend more time fantasizing about a better life than taking action to improve it.
This week’s tool is designed help you eliminate the fears that are preventing you from acting and help you to find the motivation connected with the excitement of achieving your goal.
I would encourage you to write your answer out to help you to tune in even more precisely.
1) Set-Up: Write down one of the goals you would like to achieve in the next six months.
2) Excitement: List five ways in which your life would be better if you achieved this goal.
3) Tap Into Excitement: Start tapping. Move from tapping point to point while you imagine what it is like to live the five outcomes you listed in the previous step. Don’t rush. Take them one at a time. Truly feel the joy, freedom, happiness, and/or excitement you would have if these things were true.
4) What Could Go Wrong: Come up with a life change that would force your hand in moving toward this goal. For example, if you want a new job then losing your current job would force you to find a new one, or if you want get in shape, being told by your doctor that if you don’t change your lifestyle you will become seriously ill. Write down what would happen in your life that would force you to work toward your goal.
5) Steps You Would Take: Write down the first five steps you would take if what you described in step 4 happened. Who would you call, what would you need to learn, and what action would you take? In as much detail as possible describe the first five things you would do to respond to this situation.
6) Tap Into Doing It: Once again, start tapping from point to point as you do this step. As you tap imagine yourself taking each one of the steps. Imagine the difficulties that might arise as you take these steps and then imagine yourself making the choices necessary to get past these obstacles.
After doing these six steps you will find yourself in a mindset where you are able to take some action to move towards your goal.
I would love to hear your experience with this tool.
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