Maxim of effort!
Here is a little exercise that is a perfect follow-up to the previous one - our good ole cure for abulia! This one is designed to reinforce your will power and designed to help you put out the maximum effort at all times. With the ability to keep the effort-level at its peak at all times, there is nothing you cannot achieve! The more you can exercise the will to do and follow-through to completions the better you can control the habit and the better you can control the habit - the better you will be.
So here is my little exercise for you to do everyday: (Another step to your Ya-TTITUDE!)
Every few days (a 30 day trial - takes about 30 days to get a habit formed) do something for no other reason that the simple fact that it is difficult to do. The more practice you have at doing and accomplishing the difficult tasks, when they are not necessary, the better you will be when the time comes for you to have to perform these feats of controlled will and effort. After practicing this for a while, you will no longer become unnerved at the daunting task - as it will not seem daunting at all. You will no longer procrastinate, because you will be trained to do it, not avoid it!
It does not matter what you select as the difficult task, run a mile or two, or make a gourmet meal from scratch, quit smoking, or stop drinking, go to the gym or paint a room - not important, only thing that is important is that IT IS A DIFFICULT task for you and you do it to completion.
Thoughts everyone?
I really do want to hear your comments or email me your thoughts and results as well as ideas!
Ben
April 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
My thoughts are that I need to get off this crack machine and go clean the house, lol. That’s got to be my most difficult task. I’m gonna go work on it. My husband thanks you:)
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Tell your husband he is welcome - but he should not be looking over your shoulder - laughs
It does not have to be “the most difficult” - it has to be difficult — it will train you to habitually be great at ALL tasks…
Say hello to the hubby
Ben
April 25th, 2008 at 11:38 am
What an inspiring set of posts around ‘abulia’!
I’m going to take part in this exercise. A couple things I have a hard time doing are 1) keeping focused while writing (I have a very busy mind), and 2) exercising. I didn’t realize how out of shape I was until I played a war game with my guy friends yesterday. So.. I guess we’ll see how it goes.
Great idea, thanks a bunch!
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The busy mind is a great asset - it is only that you need to harness that energy and focus it. It takes some practice - but you can do it!
Ben
April 25th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
ok now I am inspired to go clean my room! thanks Benny
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That’s one difficult task down…
April 25th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
This is a great way not only to break old molds and limiting thoughts, but actually to expand on our confidence in doing more things.
I’m going to start this…
This month im going to break my mold of not sticking with exercise.
Great Blog - Keep up the good work!
April 25th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Great Idea Erik - but instead of breaking the mold of not sticking with excercise - Why don’t you look at it as ” Creating a new positive habit of getting healthy by excercising” - - Positive begets positive - keep the positive juices, thoughts and words flowing!
Ben
April 27th, 2008 at 8:33 am
nice idea, i think i will start re-arranging things tomorrow and try to keep them tidy. It’s so hard, what with my four dogs and three sons. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to tidy things up around the house.
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Two things…
It is all about setting up a plan. And we can talk about that if you really want to, and this is the biggie that I try to teach everyone I work with. When you look at that daily to-do list - find the ONE thing you really do not want to do - and make sure it is the FIRST thing you do everyday. No matter what! Make it a habit by doing it everyday - and watch how soon your life becomes easy and grand as you have eliminated the crap ealy in every day!
Ben
April 28th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Great article.
I should do this myself. I have a hard time forcing myself to do my homework.
failureblogger-16 year old blogger
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You are a bit on the young side to be giving up already - I would allow it in you were in your early 100’s but before that - there is no reason.
Welcome to my little spot in blog-o-world…
Come and sit-a-spell - you will learn a whole lot!
Ben
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Now I must try really hard to wake up early…It’s a very difficult task for me because I’m a night person…
I’ll tell you when it works! Well, I hope so…
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Welcome Aboard Harriet, I love new commentors…
Waking up early is not necessarily the key - getting 8 hrs is. Now if you can wake up earlier and start the day off with some extra time - that is ALWAYS better!
Ben
June 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[...] general lack of either and both of these - well you guessed it - the Fifth Sign. Desire and your Maxim of Effort will take you all the way to your success. Do not be afraid to use them - they are your [...]