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I
should
How many times during the course of a day do you think,
"I should do this"? I'm talking about:
-
The garage is a mess, I should clean it up.
- My car's dirty. I should wash it.
- I should learn the Dorian mode up and down the neck.
- I should practice at least an hour a day.
The
list goes on.
We
all have long should lists. I'm not talking about
just physical lists either. I'm also referring to mental
lists. Occasionally an item moves from the should
list to the will list. That's when you actually
accomplish something.
Here
how to change should to will
Most movement from should to will is caused
by pain. "I can't go to work again today with my
car that dirty. I've got to wash it." That's not
exactly the type of thinking that will move you forward
in life. That's called being a C student - doing
just enough to get by.
Let's
try a different approach. You move forward in life by
raising your standards. For example, "I no longer
find it acceptable to be in one of the worst bands in
town. I will be in the best band in town." The
difference between being the best and the worst is a
matter of standards. Raise your standards and you'll
change your position in life. It's not enough to just
say "I want to be in the best band."
That's no different than saying, "I should be
in the best band." What we're looking for is, "I
will be in the best band and won't accept second
place."
How
is this accomplished? By raising your standards. You
must study the band that's in first place and make a
commitment to exceed their efforts. It's not enough
to think that you should practice five nights
a week instead of two. You must be committed to actually
practicing five nights a week and maintain that commitment.
Otherwise, you'll find that will was really a
should said with conviction.
The
difference between should and will is
that should doesn't include a decision. Will
is a decision. Decide to do something and follow that
decision with massive action and you'll succeed.
Try
this
I don't like reading an article when the author tells
me, "Go get a pencil and paper. I've got a list
for you to make." So, I won't do that to you right
now. You can do the list part in the morning.
Get
a pencil and two pieces of paper. On one piece of paper
write tomorrow's date and the words, I will at
the top. On the other piece of paper write, I should.
Put the pieces of paper where you'll see them first
thing in the morning. In the morning write a couple
of things on the I will list. These are things
that you're fully committed to accomplishing that day.
On the other list, keep a running tally of I should
items. You don't need a new should list every
day. Just keep working on the same list. You do need
a new I will list every morning. Try this every
day for the next week and you'll be surprised at what
you're actually able to accomplish through these commitments.
Gradually things will move from the I should
list to the I will list. Every day you must accomplish
everything that's on the I will list to maintain
your confidence.
The
reason I like to make these lists in the morning is
that it's easier to summon will power early in the day.
I don't know why that is but I've certainly noticed
it in my own life. I start most days with a lot of energy
and sometimes end the day wondering how I just sat there
watching four hours of TV. It's almost as if I'm three
different people during the day. I have one attitude
in the morning, another in the afternoon, and a third
in the evening.
I'm
fortunate that I can make my own schedule so I exercise
in the morning and accomplish other things early in
the day that I wouldn't even bother attempting later
on. However, even in the late afternoon if I see something
on my I will list that I haven't accomplished
I will get it done.
We'll
discuss this subject on the Metal Method forum: click
here
Series
Continued: Part 4
Copyright
2008, Metal Method Productions
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