Let’s talk today about how to create change in your life when you battle against your own cravings and procrastination.
Researchers have used the analogy of an elephant. Your emotions are primal instincts driven by what you like and what passionately motivates you. Motivating an elephant cannot be done by using a small rider with a tiny stick. This is why self-control is so limited. We can use self-control for a limited amount of time each day. However, to really motivate your emotional elephant, you need to use passionate motivators that will raise your elephant’s
interest. Let’s take an example of motivating your elephant. Suppose you tend to get to work late. You’d like to be know for being prompt, but somehow you manage to procrastinate and get there late most days. Now, if you’re like most people, you probably enjoy a morning coffee. Here’s a strategy to motivate your elephant to get you to work on time. Pour yourself a small,
plain cup of coffee in the morning as you prepare for work. However, at work you have a gourmet, high quality coffee with all your favourite fixings. You tell yourself that you will earn this gourmet quality coffee by arriving on time. As you keep your promise to yourself, you then reward yourself for doing so. It’s very important to keep promises to yourself and reward
yourself only when you arrive on time. Equipping your rider on your emotional elephant is another way to create
change. How do you talk to yourself? Do you say encouraging or demeaning statements to yourself. Try telling the rider what you want to do… not what you don’t want to do. For example, I am determined to be on time. Promptness shows everyone that I start my professional day with order. Being on time is totally achievable for me. I’ve done it before. I can do it again.
Another way of creating change in your life when you’ve struggled with procrastination is to shape the path of your elephant. Many of us want to increase our daily activity but find little energy left at the end of the day for exercise. Shaping the path would be to set your alarm 15 minutes earlier, put workout clothes out for getting dressed and the equipment for your activity you’d like to do right in front of your bed (running shoes for walking).
Moving the objects for your activity in front of you each morning shapes the path and makes it easier to keep promises to yourself.
Now, this has been a lot of learning. Give yourself a thinking break and let your mind rest. Be refreshed and notice how much better your mind is able to take on the rest of your day.