Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a never ending loop? As though you woke up every day and did exactly what you did the day before but expected it to be different? Einstein once defined insanity as repeating the same actions over and over again and expecting a different result.
It’s like you know you should shut down email so you can work on the important project that’s going to bring you more business and create more revenue. But you don’t. Instead you get stuck replying to emails, which then illicits a response from said person, which you then `have’ to reply to and so it goes on.
Before you know it the day is almost gone and you’ve achieved nothing!
So why do we get stuck in this loop?
It’s an interesting question, and yesterday might be a good day to explain the answer. It was groundhog day. A day that’s typically reserved for figuring out if winter weather’s here to stay for another six weeks or if spring’s coming early (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).
But more importantly, this particular day shares a movie of the same name. Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray and Andy MacDowell was a comedy film that came out in 1993. It centered around Murray’s character, an egocentric Pittsburg TV weatherman who finds himself repeating the same day over and over again.
After indulging in everything that life had to offer, and even attempting suicide a number of times (hey, it was a dark movie at some points), Murray’s character began to reexamine his life and priorities.
While the movie takes things from one extreme to another, it really makes me question why people get stuck in destructive patterns. I see it all the time – whether it’s with relationships with friends, family or even partners, or a love/hate relationship with money, and especially inefficient patterns in business – people tend to get stuck in their ways and can’t fix it.
One trend I see a lot of around this time of year is that people generally drop their New Year resolutions. Have you kept up with yours? If no is this what happens every year with you?
Now Groundhog Day has passed, today’s the day to look at these patterns and acknowledge them happening, only then will you have a chance to break free of them… and forge a new path.
I’m going to share with you what I shared with my High Flyer community newsletter this week because it’s really important (you should sign up for more of these gems).
Two Forces That Prevent Us From Taking Action
We should be asking ourselves, “How am I going to live the next ten years of my life? How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I’m committed to? What am I going to stand for from now on? What’s important to me right now, and what will be important to me in the long term? What actions can I take today that will shape my ultimate destiny?”
Instead we continue to repeat the same old mistakes and expect to see different results. Why?
Fear. That’s right. Fear.
Fear comes from not knowing if the action we want to take is the right action, the one that will work. We could lose some money, some aspect of our reputation, some self-confidence.
Fear comes from not knowing if the action we want to take is the right action, the one that will work. We could lose some money, some aspect of our reputation, some self-confidence.
Breaking fear down there are two twin forces that drive all human behavior – 1) the need to avoid pain and 2) the desire to gain pleasure
Here’s an example that all chocolate lovers can relate to:
Your NY’s resolution was to lose 5kg yet the giant chocolate bar is calling out to you (can’t blame you). You want to eat it because you associate deep pleasure with eating it, even though the thought of staying `overweight’ is painful. But in that very moment you have to have it and the pleasure is more powerful –your healthy eating plan is dashed.
What if you reconditioned your thought to say the pleasure that will come from not eating that chocolate bar will be your increased energy levels, your clear skin and your lean body.
You’d make a decision not to pick up that chocolate bar right? And the desire would pass and you’d be proud for taking control of the situation and moving another step closer to your true desire to being your healthiest possible self.
Here’s the kicker. If you learn to control the motivating forces of pain and pleasure you can achieve anything you put your mind to.You have to change what the pain and pleasure are associated too.
What makes us successful?
Using your personal power on a daily basis to make a decision to take action. Just like above.
“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” ~Anthony Robbins (my hero)
If making decisions is so simple and powerful, then why don’t more people follow Nike’s advice and “Just Do It”?
Procrastination. I bet you don’t notice all the freedom you’re giving up as you allow procrastination to continually set in.
When we procrastinate we think that taking the action we’ve been putting off is less painful then taking that action to get the job done. That’s why you put off doing that important client work until just before the deadline when the pain of not doing it on time outweighs the pain of doing it at all.
That’s the bottom line.
So how do I make sure 2011 rocks?
If any of this has resonated with you at all then I am over the moon. So what are you going to do about it?
- Re read your goals
- Revisit your 1 page business plan and complete the tactics to go with your goals.
- Reconnect with that vision you have of your fantastic future. Even create a vision board. Oprah has a cool free app on her site I’ve been using.
- Talk to me about one on one Business Design Coaching and check out what it is!
- Tell me one thing in the comments below that you’re going to stop yourself from repeating from today on.
Oh and if you haven’t already, go rent Groundhog Day. It’s a real eye opener!