Since we want to be “former procrastinators” – women who now do what needs doing when it needs doing – we need to pay attention to the strong pull of our own emotions. (“The Elephant in the Room” February 1, 2016)
In the book Switch – How to Change When Change Is Hard, Chip and Dan Heath explain that when it comes to change, our rational abilities are like a rider on an elephant -our emotions- trying to travel a path to a destination. Rational is able to handle long term, but emotions prefer short term. Emotions want the end destination, but they are easily diverted from the path by whatever offers immediate gratification.
Therefore, to START going to the gym, I have to find a way to appeal to my emotions as well as to my rational thinking. To CONTINUE going to the gym, I need to be ready with reminders for my emotions when they want to skip those days, and … stop going.
Rationally, I know strong bones and muscles are healthy. Easy.
Emotionally, not easy. I prefer to do other things with my time. That’s really it – time. So, I think of satisfying, beneficial things to do on the drive to and from the gym – prayer, music, programs, or sermons. I also recognize the reason strong bones and muscles matter is that I can do more in life, feel good, live longer healthy, be agile and alert, able to travel, take on projects, and someday play with our grandchildren. I really care about those things. Now I am willing to give time to the gym because it will help me enjoy life more, enjoy life longer, and maintain the body God has given me as His temple.
Tomorrow, we have an appointment at the gym – no kidding. Please pray!
I have ready reminders to keep my emotions on the road for the long term, God-prompted destination.
This weekend a woman who’s trained as a life coach said to me, “I tell my children, ‚ÄòMost people give up what they want most for what they want in the moment.'” Read that again! Most people give up what they want most for what they want in the moment.
Ladies, let’s stay on the road for what we want most by reminding our emotions how valuable our destination is to them.
Let’s choose what we want MOST over what we want in the moment.
What destination do you desire and how will you remind your emotions to stay on the road to get there?
Leave a Reply