Moment #4

I have a serious online solitaire problem. Today, I am going for a bike ride with a friend and I found myself playing solitaire rather than writing this blog post.

As I was playing, loving and hating it at the same time, I decided to examine my thoughts.

Why was I playing solitaire rather than writing this post?

Because I only had an hour before I had to meet my friend and that isn’t enough time to write a post. Huh. That is what I was thinking?
While it is true I may not have enough time to write an entire post in an hour, I did have enough time to START writing a post.
This led me to look at why I think I have to write an entire blog post in one sitting.

My thought: because I may forget my train of thought and never finish it.

Both of these thoughts I can manage.

I can at least start a blog post in the time that I have available rather than wasting it playing yet another game of solitaire.

Both of these thoughts are not necessarily true.
I can absolutely finish a blog post in an hour. If I don’t I can leave it and come back and still have the general gist of the post.

Unmanaged Mind:
Circumstance: I have an hour before I have to go.
Thought: It’s not enough time to start and finish a blog post.
Emotion: Anxiety
Action: Play solitaire
Result: Blog posts never get written, I feel like a failure and never realize my full potential

Managed Mind: 
Circumstance: I have an hour before I have to go.
Thought: I can at least start a blog post.
Feeling: Motivated.
Action: Start and maybe even finish a blog post.
Result: Blog post gets written, I become a successful coach and change the world.

This is one of those times when I have to establish a new habit and that takes discipline and practice