In the last two blog posts, I wrote about the uncanny power of our own mental potential, and about how our weakest link is our CONSCIOUS MIND. This post is about how to strengthen this weakest link without going through a lot of psycho-analysis, self-help courses and books.

Enjoy . . . and USE it!

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Happy Pearl Harbor Memorial Day. This is the day that America made a decision to go to war . . . and finished that monumental task in fine fashion (at least from our point of view!). We set a goal and accomplished it.

On a lesser note, this is also the day that marks only 17 shopping Days ‘til Christmas!

Are you out looking for that special gift for that special someone?  Or are you, like me, waiting until the very last minute and ordering online, hoping to get that thing in before the US Mail decides to shut down on the 24^th?  Assuming the Postman decides NOT to cater to our whim, we have a “contingency plan” of begging and blaming, i.e., give her a card with sincere apologies along the words “Well it SHOULD have been here by now…”

I notice we all do it – sabotage our success. But why?  The road to success is not easy, but really quite simple.  As the lesson of Pearl Harbor taught us, just finish what you start.

“It’s not what you do in life that counts; it’s what you finish.” – Kathryn Hepburn

Oh, there are plenty of excuses (and lots of blame to throw around) but why would we bother to agree to something and proceed NOT to finish or do it properly?  Is it laziness?  Inherent stupidity?  Are we at the whim of a vengeful God?  Or are we just overwhelmed with possibilities, don’t know how to say “no,” and forget what we agreed to??

I vote the last one. Remember the story of the dog with the bone in his mouth?  He was standing on a bridge staring into his own reflection in the water.  He wanted SO BADLY to get that OTHER dog’s bone that he dropped the one he had in his mouth to jumps into the water to get the other one.

Like that, we make a snap – mostly reflexive – decision about some item that we feel should be on our agenda, then jump before we realize it is all part of our own illusion.  This promised “bone” is very seductive, if only because it is new and fresh.  It could be a

• “once-in-a-lifetime money-making opportunity,”
• “must have” new pair of bejeweled jeans, or a
• lover who “gets us” so much better than our existing mate.

Whatever the reason to jump ship, cut short our existing project or commitment, or just spread ourselves too thin, is it so important that we give up our very center?  Our peace of mind?  I think not.

Part of a complete “mental detox” program is to actually DECIDE (consciously, not subconsciously) that a particular course of action is worthwhile . . . then proceed to finish it NO MATTER WHAT.

By doing this even a few times, you will build up the mental strength (i.e., habit) to continue doing this over and over again.  Then you know what?  You WILL accomplish your goals.  You WILL gain that elusive peace of mind.

“But Dr. Craig, what if I decide half-way through that this course of action is a waste of time and counter productive?”

Hey, if you REALLY feel it is that way, then quit. Be aware, however, that every time you start something and quit, you are driving another nail into your own “success coffin” and weakening the mental strength you would need to finish other, more important project!

Do this simple exercise: If you have trouble completing goals – say finishing a whole book – make a very small one, like reading two pages by next week.  Then DO IT.  Then set another goal, i.e, read 3 pages before another week.  Then do that!

Before you know it, one of two things will happen – either you will complete what you set out to do, or you will do MORE than you set out to do, get bored, and do even more!

I did and it made a HUGE difference in my ability to accomplish my goals.  With the help of Raymond Aaron, I set out last May to ride my new unicycle 3 miles in one month.  Now I ride almost 3 miles per day, and I did this by setting (and completing) very small goals each time.

Try it for 3 weeks, long enough to establish this action as a new habit.  Then write me to say how it went!