The Only Thing That Will Get You Through Bad Situations
It's so bad, but you have to get through it.The only way out is psychological reframing.
The reality of how bad things are isn't going to change.
So if you can't change that, the only thing you can do is change your attitude.Military groups call it "embracing the suck."
It sucks. In fact, it sucks for all of us.
Once you can adjust to that, you can stop complaining and get going.
The faster you can adjust, the faster you can move forward.
So, it's not about avoiding the suck or alleviating the suck--that's often not feasible.The trick is to adjust quickly and make things happen anyway.
2 Minute Action
What's something that is going to suck no matter what you do?
- Working out.
- Dieting.
- Sales calls.
- Surgeries.
- Angry customers.
- Absent students.
- Car accidents.
- Being mugged.
- Having your business robbed.
These are just a few examples off the top of my head.I bet you can think of a few in your own life and take the next two minutes to mentally embrace the suck.Once you do, you will already be more resilient and ready for the next mission.
Turning This Negative Thing Into A Positive Is Totally In Your Control
I was demoralized.I was sitting on my front porch, looking into my hands.I was holding a cigarette.I had just smoked a cigarette for the first time in 2 weeks.What made it worse was that I had just gotten home from the gym.I had gone 2 weeks without a cigarette, was eating healthy, was exercising, and now--this.I crushed it into the bowl with the others.Regret.Self-loathing.Anger.But it was the last one . . . anger.That was what offered me the energy to try again.I walked inside, reset my focus, and headed out for the day.I've quit smoking many times, but that time was one of the last.I've now been completely smoke-free for 4 years.It wasn't the patch--I tried that.It wasn't the gum--I tried that, too.It definitely wasn't dieting or exercise, either.It was all of this, together with the people around me, and an eagerness to convert anger into fuel.That was my first experience being relentless-- and it's paying off.After you crash and after you feel the wave of emotions that inevitably strike--remember that you have a choice.The rest is up to you.
2 Minute Action
Choose 1 of these things to accomplish, today.
- 15 Pushups
- 10 Sales Calls
- 1 Difficult conversation
- Call a parent, mentor, or role model and ask for support
You don't have to do everything, that's impossible.You just have to do something. Make it small--that part doesn't matter.Just start.
How To Predict The Future
It's not as hard as you think.
Human beings are actually notoriously bad at predicting what they would and wouldn't do in future situations.We say we'd do the right thing, but don't consider social pressure, politics, or real-world consequences.It's easy to talk the talk when your amygdala is quiet and well-behaved.So, let's get serious.The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.Whether you're evaluating a new hire or predicting the success of your new diet, the rule is the same.It's that simple.Not easy, but simple.
2 Minute Action
What's something you want to improve in your life or career?Have you had this thought before?Assuming you still want to improve this, what might you do differently than before?Quick reminder: if you want to be an anomaly, you need to act like one.