Submitted Request..
This post is an answer to a submitted question. It aims to provide help and solutions to overcome the issue.
Podcast version: HERE
Quote: “You DO hold the power to interpret the world around you and decide how you want to show up and respond (or not.)”
Adding to the quote:
You have the incredible ability to shape your reality through the lens of your own perceptions.
I like to think of your brain as a lock and the key is in your hand if you just now how to connect the two.
Every moment presents you with the opportunity to choose how you engage with the world and how you think and see it. You have the power to determine your own narrative and define your own path. Through the stories and images you believe in your mind. This does take training your brain to work for you rather than against you. Use this power to guide your life with purpose. You control how you see things and how you react to them. This power is inside you, ready to be used in a way that matches who you really are.
Submitted Question
“How do you start doing difficult tasks with ease?
I feel for the most part I avoid doing the work because I just don't know how to do it and since it's difficult. Brain just automatically shuts down. I guess I'm lacking discipline but I'm not sure. Some people actually love doing the hard things and they're so engaged which makes it easy for them but I don't know how to find a way to look at things more simpler way”
My Response if we were in a coaching setting. Although without being able to ask questions, I may assume or use scenarios to fill in the gaps.
I can see how this situation can seem confusing.
Starting difficult tasks with ease can be challenging, especially when you feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to begin.
Discipline is hard, but what is even harder is the lack of it.
When we humans attach to a belief, a story, a dialog that states “I don’t know how and it’s difficult” it triggers a feeling in your body of low energy, inadequacy, not good enough, not able, not capable, different and so on. Anyone that has this belief would naturally react in a way that’s self defeating and not take action and likely isolate themselves.
- What’s getting in the way?
- Is it more important?
- Or does taking priority feel better?
Our brain will move us towards what feels good and familiar so how you think about anything will either set your heart on fire or you’ll avoid it at all costs.
In order to start feeling comfortable, you have to get uncomfortable.
It’s clear that you see there’s a connection between your thoughts and your brain, this is brilliant! So you’re very aware that your brain is indeed working super hard to protect you. This is HUGE for most people don’t realize this and it takes weeks, months or even years to see and experience this connection.
What if you were to break down the task or tasks you’re wanting to do into micro mini tiny itty bitty chunks? Usually when I suggest this a new belief pops up, such as, “If I do a little bit each day that will take forever and I will never get it done!” More negative energy, feeling and sends a signal to your brain that you’re not capable, this again keeping you stuck in the mindset that you can’t do anything! Think about it this way, 18 minutes of doing anything every day for a full year, 365 days equals 100 hours. What can you do, accomplish, and learn in 100 hours? A lot right? And if you do a little each day if you set the bar stupid low, maybe just 10 minutes doesn’t mean that’s all you do, it’s more about showing up and proving your ego-mind wrong that you can do hard things and you do show up every day. If after 10 minutes you want to do more, do it! This builds self confidence and mixing in some self compassion when missing a day..
Optimally having someone like me to hold you accountable, cheer you on and help you get back on track when your mindset waivers is the ultimate sweet spot. This does take investing in yourself and courage to ask for help.
- What is discipline?
- How would you define discipline?
- Not the dictionary definition of discipline, how do you define discipline?
I quickly looked it up and in short it means obeying rules, conduct or behavior. That sounds like pressure. The brain doesn’t like to be told, dictated or pressured into doing something or anything long term, if what you’re wanting to do is something you want to start doing and have it be consistent, a lifestyle or a habit it has to have intrinsic motivation attached to it. Meaning it has to have a strong correlation with your values, who you want to be, and there’s some internal satisfaction and joy associated with it. Simply put if that’s not baked in, this process will fall apart in hours, days or at the most 2 weeks. This is the human design.
Slowing down and seeing, noticing, and getting to understand yourself at a deeper level, is where the HOW is. What this means is seeing what thoughts create feelings of not doing the thing, and the thoughts that set you into action doing other things. This is the hack to your brain, learning and understanding how your brain works is the secret to having more of what you want in life.
I wish you all the best.
Please share this with anyone you believe would benefit from the insights. Post a comment, I read and reply to them all. Thank you in advance!
If you want to send a question, please send to hello@katherine-hood.com please include:
- A coachable question (something that addresses what's in your control, your thoughts, feelings or actions.)
- And context, explain a situation in the past, currently going through, or worries/concerns of the future, giving me some details on your thoughts and feelings about it.