The most valuable education of all
April - This Week's Quote:
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“The most valuable of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it has to be done, whether you like it or not.” -Aldous Huxley
How many times have you heard some one say, “Yeah, I really need to do that,” referring to a task they either needed to finish or to begin, or some change in habit or behavior they need to make. Then, in the next breath, they list all the reasons why they can’t do it – not enough time, they need this certain bit of information first, or someone else has to do something before they can do this, or you name it.
Or how many times have you had something on your to-do list that was really important – a project you really needed to start, or to get finished – but you kept putting other things first, or you kept doing lesser important things until there was no more time left to get the biggest important thing done?
I know I’ve done this many times, and so have my clients!
If you’ve ever had kids or been around preschoolers, you’re familiar with the defiant 3 year old who says “No” to everything.
Or maybe in grade school, your parents said, “Do your homework first, and then you can play,” like mine did. Remember the frustration? You just needed to do this one thing first – watch a tv show, play a video game, call a friend, whatever it was, then you’d to the homework. But no – they wouldn’t listen would they!?
Now, fast forward back to the present – where you are today. When you can’t seem to make yourself do the things you know you need to do, have you perhaps slipped into the role of the defiant 3 year old, or the rebellious youth? It’s an easy habit to get into, and a habit you may not consciously realize you have until you do some exploring.
Notice next time you start to say or think, “Yeah, I really need to do that, but…” Stop and tune in to your heart. Do you sense a defiance or rebellion somewhere inside? If so, acknowledge that inner child. What would the loving parent say to them? Have some inner conversations using these questions:
*What are the choices involved here?
*What are the consequences of each choice?
*What is the desired outcome?
*Which choice would bring you this outcome more quickly?
You see, we’re all more willing to do things when we feel like we have a choice in the matter. Taking a moment to evaluate choices, consequences, and the preferred outcomes puts us more in a place of personal power and sidesteps the habitual default mode of reacting.
How much more productive and efficient would you be if, indeed, you could make yourself do the things you had to do, when they had to be done, whether you like it or not? How much happier would your home life be if you could teach your children this quality? You know, you can teach them. And the best way to do this is through your example.
Blessings!
Becky
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