Inner Motivation #3

The Benefits of Ignoring Illusion and Deception

The Value of Focussing on Reality

Everybody has both a negative and a positive side to their character, as you saw previously in this Inner Motivation series. The Cherokee Indians say you have a black wolf strenuously motivating the negative, and your white wolf gently offering the positive. Following the black wolf has arduous consequences, while the white wolf brings you more desirable circumstances.

If Only ...

In the past, how much time have you spent saying: "If only..."?
As in: "If only this had happened," or: "If only I had done that?" You probably think such questions help to progress your life, but they are actually counter-productive - these speculations do not serve you. But why not?

You're speculating about what didn't happen, and that wastes time thinking about what you know is not real. How can it be a secret of success - it's not reality.

Don't Feed the Black Wolf

What's real in life is reality, which is what's true. Yet you already know that illusion is not real, it's untrue. And when you start from untruth, any conclusions you draw are also going to be untrue. The problems come as the black wolf tries to motivate you to forget the illusion you started with, and pursue the conclusions anyway. But since they're based on an untruth, how can any such conclusions help change your life?

All "If only" thoughts about the past are about an untruth, they're deceptions stem from the black wolf. Yet whenever you give any energy to the black wolf you self sabotage by feeding it, which makes it stronger. Since you'll find life more enjoyable when you aim to reduce if not eliminate arduous circumstances, you need to stop feeding the black wolf with its negative consequences.

Reality is life, and life is what's real. So enjoy life by spending your time focussing on what's real rather than deception and untruth. This is not to deny that illusions can be very enjoyable as entertainment, but in general the secret of success is to spend your time with what is, rather than wasting time on what isn't...

If Only I could Afford It

In the past, how much time have you spent saying, If only I could afford it? This statement feeds the black wolf because it doesn't reflect reality, you only say this when you have already decided you can't afford it.

There's a far more powerful question to ask yourself instead: Can I afford NOT to invest the money or the time? The secret of success is not to assume you can't afford it, this explores the consequences and focuses on your goals.

Up till now, What percent of your time have you spent feeding the white wolf? From this point on, What percent of your time would you prefer to spend feeding the white wolf?'

What, if anything, is keeping you from implementing your answer to this last question? You can change your life by writing down your answer to these questions, this maximizes your benefits from thinking about the consequences.

Food for Thought

"Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have."

- Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American writer, lecturer, developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills

This article was originally published at selfgrowth.com/articles/if-only-is-a-very-common-thought-does-it-do-any-good-part-3-in-the-inner-motivation-series

© Copyright worldwide Cris Baker, www.LifeStrategies.net. All rights reserved. Republishing welcomed under Creative Commons noncommercial no derivatives license preserving all links intact, so share this widely!

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