An interesting 3 word phrase is one of the most debilitating in the English Language. “I know that!”
Unfortunately, when we say that to someone or to ourselves, we turn off from other potential possibilities and learning opportunities, because we have told ourselves that we don’t need to listen or think any further…because I KNOW THAT!
It is an interesting concept, because most of us have heard about the things that will help us lead a more productive, fulfilling life. However, we persist in not taking a lot of that information on board and even if we do – and we know that – we don’t implement it.
WHY?
I am constantly asking myself that question lately. If we know it, why don’t we do it.
There are a lot of reasons
- inertia, we really are just happy sitting there doing the same thing and getting the same results
- fear of the unknown – I haven’t tried it before and am scared of the results – either good or bad
- we are unsure of how to do it, even though we profess to know (training requirement)
- sometimes it is just a habit to persist in doing what isn’t working – for instance, one of mine at the moment and for a while is complaining about situations and people, even though I know it is not helping me and is actually keeping me off course.
- we are lying, and don’t really know; and
- finally whilst we say we know it, we don’t really believe it. It sounds too good to be true.
How do we overcome this seemingly sensible (although not really) sensible list.
Firstly, it is about getting real clarity about what it is you want. Get not just a good picture of what it is, but get your emotions and feelings involved and really ingrain them into your body/mind.
Once you have done that, ensure that you have a number of solid reasons why it is important to you. As Simon Sinek wrote in his memorable book “Start with Why”, a strong enough why will overcome any how!
Then you need to have faith that it is there for you. Just like Indiana Jones in “The Last Crusade” it is a leap of faith for many of the new things we do, to leap into the vast unknown. Now as long as you aren’t trying to long jump over the Grand Canyon, it is in many cases not going to be life threatening and we should just get on and do it, especially if it is something important and we have a strong enough why.
The worst thing to do is get it all ready and then not proceed.
Have faith and as Lao Tzu said “the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. As you may know, it is getting out of bed on that cold morning to train when you don’t want to, or typing the first paragraph to get the article or blog written when there are better things to do, that when you do it you feel so good about.
In many cases the reasons I gave earlier are just a smoke screen to the general fear and doubts we have that if we do what we know we should we might actually surprise ourselves and others how good we actually are.
Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us;
It’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
I love this poem and it is worth reading regularly to ensure that we let our own light shine and in doing so we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Be your best for you and all those around you. You Deserve It!
Rock on!
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