2% Is All You Need To Change Your Life
Really? Is 2% all you need to change your life ? Obviously I'm talking about making a change for the good, no one wants to know how to make your life worse, now do they ? (Though I might be forgiven for thinking that I have a met a few over the years.)
2% of what ? Of that, I'm not really sure. Here's the thing, I recently read an article by Regan Hillyer, after seeing a short video that popped up on Facebook. I hadn't been searching for this particular video, it just came on after I had watched the one I wanted to see, as they do unless you're quick on the 'cancel' button.
The video itself would probably be found under the heading 'Conspiracy Theories' but in all fairness it was interesting enough to hold my attention for a few minutes. This in turn led me to do a quick 'Google' on the creator and found myself on her website leafing through various blog posts.
I would say that 'Life Coach' would be an adequate description, although she does possess a few more strings to her bow, or arrows in her quiver, as I prefer to say.
One of the posts was entitled "The 2% Secret to Success" and it piqued my interest. After reading through it, I couldn't disagree with most of what she had said.
The 2% is referring to our 'Internal reality' or in layman's terms, our inner dialogue that dictates how we view our life and the world in which we live. Our natural predilection when it comes to how we act and react to everything.
'Is the glass half full or half empty ?' kind of thing. Some of us have a positive outlook and some of us don't.
The premise of the post indicates that we should make an effort to be more positive and give ourselves a chance of actually prevailing in our attempts at 'whatever', rather than setting ourselves up to fail, not unlike the 'self-fulfilling prophecy'.
You know how that goes "I'll never be able to do that" and guess what, you never do. Of course the practicalities of whatever we are attempting have to be given due consideration. I'm never going to be a successful, professional jockey. That's not me being negative, it's just that I don't fit the criteria needed to cross that particular threshold.
That's not to say that with some hard work and serious coaching I could manage to be a decent horse rider. Like most things, given the time, opportunity and the right guidance, we can become adept at a great many things, should we have the necessary desire.
So, where does the above leave us ? Well, maybe we should try to change the internal conversation so that we are now saying "You know what ? I can do this" or "I've not done this before but I'm sure I'll be able to manage it"
I like the recent remanufactured Descartes quote of "I think, therefore I am " which I 'butchered' (with thought) into "I think therefore I can and I will".
Worth a shot ? I think it is but it is one of those things that you have to work at, all to often we start out with good intentions but by day three we are starting to see cracks in our commitment.
Maybe that's where some kind of daily mantra would work, as a reminder, surely we owe ourselves that, at least.
Well, Monday is drawing to a close, I hope yours has been of epic proportions.
Twack Romero.
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Hi again Twack
The théory is well supported not just anecdotally but by science. I'm not so sure about the 2% though because it depends where someone is starting.
Anyway, the thing is that most of us find it difficult to notice our own negative voices when they occur. If we notice we can stop the voice and turn it into something positive. Over time the negative voice becomes less prevalent. It takes work to develop the level of awareness needed, but it is very worthwhile.
Best wishes
Richard
I had recently read that the breakdown of thoughts that we have during the day does favour the negative ones by quite a margin.
Luckily, due to life events (always looking for a silver lining) I did spend a number of years working on the 'internals', as it were. Anything that does not 'serve' me is given short shrift nowadays.
Also, the belief that we are 'hard-wired', to the extent that we have to accept that we are just the way we are, is no longer a valid posotion. As you say, it does take work to have that kind of self-awareness but the benefits are many and long-lasting.
Thank you for your considered thoughts Richard, they are always welcome and greatly appreciated.
Hi Twack ... I thank you for your kind words.
Much of the theory about the way the brain and mind works (since 60s at least) is being supported by modern brain scan experiments, and experts are now able to explain things much more succinctly than in the past.
As you know, the brain and nervous system controls everything for us, both inside, and much outside as well,
I believe that the more everyone can learn about how brain and mind functions work together, how to make internal changes, and how important brain health is, without getting deeply bogged down in the science, the better off everyone and mankind in general will become.
That’s my speakers corner contribution for today!
:-).
Richard
Good post Twack.
I know a lady who's automatic response to everything was negative rather than positive and she missed out on a lot.. After a while it becomes very tiring to be in that person's company.
So what I'm saying is, check your response before you speak and check your thoughts before they become full blown negativity.
It's not always easy, we get exhausted with everything to be done and the world situation, which can bring on the negativity so easily. So keep a check before the internal dialogue goes downhill and your work with it.
Thank you and succinctly put. It's surprising how those that walk around with a cloud above their head can drag you down if you let them.
Though it's impossible to avoid all them all of the time I no longer allow them to 'bring me down'.
The number of opportunities that present themselves to us, sometimes on a daily basis, deserve to be at least looked at, along with the cascading thoughts that we have running through our minds.
Time is a precious commodity and I no longer allow it to be wasted by the 'naysayers'.
That is excellent Twack. I find that laughing helps or ignoring them by singing.
Although to be fair, I sing a lot apparently and am often unaware of it. Oooops.
Someone mentioned it in a socially distanced queue at the Post Office the other day. Oooops again. He was polite and said it was quite nice ......... but I have been told otherwise.
It keeps negative nellies at bay, they hate someone to be happy, lol.
That made me laugh. It does remind me of two quotes.
Albert Einstein said, "Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution."
The other was from Denzel Washinton who observed that "Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons"
Whereas once it used to find it exacerbating, now it just saddens me, as I know that they must spend an awful amount of time being miserable (ironically, there are those who are at their happiest when they are bringing others down)
We only get one crack at this, life isn't a dress rehearsal, as someone once said.
True quotes.
There are many who are happiest when complaining. I have learnt that its pointless getting too annoyed about it or trying to change them.
Though occasionally it still bugs me, I am human after all(don't tell anyone)and prefer to be happy, not miserable. I am lucky to have my office, it is an escape, lol.
I agree, some are so set in their ways that they wouldn't change, on principle, I leave them to it.
We almost had an office but one has moved back in as his girlfriend is on a course until February and another returns from uni in three weeks. Maybe next year, something to look forward to.
Well at least you got close to that office.
This morning I am thinking uninhabited island somewhere, with basic amenities and wifi. Only I know its there, its invisible to the rest of the world, lol.
Some may typically refer to that island as 'nirvana'. I suppose the place to start is 'visualisation'.
I do daily, lol. Cheesed off right now, its taken 2 hours so far to get an appt for a blood test. Still waiting. Started at 10 in the queue
I can empathise. I had to teach my youngest how to navigate past both the automated phone lines and the receptionists so that he could get a repeat prescription without visiting the surgery, which you are not meant to be doing at present.
Good luck.
We order through the pharmacy to get repeat prescriptions.
Thank you, but luck was not with me.
Sorry about the negativity earlier, I saw your reply while waiting on the phone, lol.
No problem, I know how frustrating dealing with the medical profession can be sometimes, that's not to take anything away from the incredible job they do under difficult circumstances mind nut it can still be a pain.
Good to hear. I'm off to try and recover the lost time from yesterday. It was one of those days when you're busy from start to finish but don't seem to have made any progress.
I will bow to your wisdom on this one Paul, thank you.
It did make me think of a quote about a ship being off course by only one degree upon departure, can send it to an entirely different destination by the end of its journey.
You are completely correct.
1 degree off results in millions of miles.
Take care.
You are awesome.
Love and peace always from Canada.
Paul.
It's always a pleasure to have your thoughts, Paul, always🙏. Likewise for yourself from these damp, wet and thoroughly miserable isles.
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Hi Twack. Monday has been a real disturbing day at work for me. Reading your post this morning has calm some of the queasy feeling inside.
The 2% makes me realize that I can make a real difference by adjusting my mindset. I am now of to work with a new set of mind. Thanks for reminding us all of our potential.
Carol
I am sorry to hear about your Monday Carol but happy that you have taken something good from this post.
You have hit the nail on the head, so to speak, we can make a big difference by just making a small shift in the direction our inner conversation goes.
I hope that you are having a monumental Tuesday. (Don't tell anyone but I'm off to do yet another 'dog introduction'😲)