A story goes that a farmer had a visitor come up to his front porch in the middle of a hot summer day. The farmer was sitting in a rocking chair while his hunting dog laid right beside him. While the visitor was talking to the farmer, periodically, the dog would whine. After several whimpers from the dog, the visitor asks if the dog is OK? The farmer says, Oh yes. He’s OK. He is just lying on a nail. The visitor quips, then why doesn’t he move? The farmer says it don’t hurt bad enough yet.

That dog is like many humans. They will sit there, in pain, not wanting to do anything about it until the pain turns into a catastrophe. In the meantime, they use hope as a strategy.

As always, attitude is where I break into the Action Circle to begin the change process. Clarity is the mark of a successful beginning on everything. I have learned about myself, that when I am not getting clear on a subject, I need to clear my thinking. In order to clear my thinking, I have found it most helpful to get out of my head and into my heart. Nothing changes my mood and attitude faster than and overcomer movie, or inspirational audio or video. It needs to resonate with feeling to get me thinking outside myself. Instead of thinking what’s wrong inside, thinking what’s right out there in the world.

Myth Busters had a hilarious episode where they tested the effectiveness of “Slap some sense into me” . It used a slap machine with a hand that would unexpectedly slap the subject. The conclusion was “Myth Confirmed”, that the subject actually became clearer in their thinking, and performed better in testing after being slapped in the face.

You must break out of the now moment of being in one frame of mind into the now moment of an open frame of mind. It is said that the mind is like a parachute, it works better when it is open.

Action Circle:
Why are you doing what you want to do?
What are your Goals to reach “Your why”?
What Action steps are you going to take?
What are the Results from your Actions?
Evaluate your Results to achieve your Why
Start over again

This diagram demonstrates how a change in belief (Why) leads to an improvement in potential (Goals), releasing the energy for Action, that leads to the desired Results. It starts with the basics. I have found that the course of life can be simplified into kindergarten circles, fill-in-the-blank, connect-the-dots, third-grade math and play follow the leader. The steps are numbered and easy, however, the process takes effort. You will need to hold your feet to the fire and use discipline and will power to do the things that other people will not do to get success started.

When I began to look for ways to change my attitude, I remembered this video by Andy Andrews. Although Andy Andrews started out as a comedian, his Mastering the Seven Decisions video resonates for changing attitudes and course directions. Enjoy.

Action Plan

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The Japanese Reason for Being is extremely helpful is getting focused on determining where you are, and where you want to be.

• List ten ideas that come to mind for each of the four areas. Write them down in a safe place to refer to repeatedly. If it is not written, it is not so.
• In the process, get clear on the values and beliefs that surround each area
• For each idea, answer the following question: “Which means?”
• Cogitate on those values for a week to see if they really fit for you at this point in your life. Studies show that age impacts strength and hierarchy of values.

We will look at values next to get clearer and more focused on what is important to you and others.