I was sitting on the couch the other day – not doing something anything particularly inspiring and I thought out loud:
This feels really lazy right now.
When I looked at the list of things that I aspire to be – lazy is not one of them.
But there on the couch, I felt sluggish. I could just stay here – it’s easier to not move than it is to change something.
So I started to go through the list of things that I wanted to do:
- I want to get my taxes done and be on top of things for once during tax season.
- I want to get back into ultra mode & finish 777.
- I want to get greater clarity on the banking side of my businesses between Impossible & Ultimate Paleo Guide.
- I want to fix my shoulder issue and keep my hamstrings loose with mobility work.
- I want to get stronger and work on some of the more complicated gymnastics movements on my impossible list.
Sitting on the couch wasn’t on the list…
But for some reason, sitting there was compelling – simply because it was on
In my mind there were a bunch of stories going on:
- I’m never on top of my taxes before the deadline.
- I’ve been out of ultra shape for longer than I’d like to admit.
- Banking is complicated & suckssssss.
- I’m not flexible, mobility won’t help.
- I’m not very good at gymnastics, what makes me think I’m going to get better.
The funny thing is – those statements are only true as long as I stayed on the couch.
If I stay on the couch, sure, I’ll never get better, things will just get harder to change and the current status will become more permanent.
But, if I get up, then there’s possibility to change stuff.
We like to think that some character traits are inherited. They just are.
Nope.
The purposeful practice of actions is what builds a trait (and tears it down if you neglect it).
When you pre-disqualify yourself from trying something new, because you don’t already possess the skill – you’re creating a sick-infectious-catch-22-mindset that’s only sends you into a downward spiral that can only leaves you worse off than when you started.
Ever thought something like this?
I can’t do X [thing] because I’m not Y [type of person]
- I can’t run a marathon because I’m not athletic.
- I can’t write a book because I’m not creative.
- I can’t start a business because I’m not entrepreneurial.
If a good story is defined by a character, who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it, when you say “I can’t do X [thing] because I’m not Y [type of person]”, you’re the dude on the couch who
- wants something
- encounters conflict
- decides not to do anything about it
- keeps sitting on the couch
- wonders why things aren’t different
Not even a good enough story to put on kindle for 99 cents.
So how do you fix this?
What type of person do you want to be? Do more things that that person would do.
It sounds pretty simple – that’s because it is.
Here’s how it works.
Want to be a….
Writer? Do more writer things
Table of Contents
- Start a blog
- Journal more
- Start on your book idea
- Read your stuff out loud
- Edit other people’s work
Athlete? Do more athletic things
- Hang out on the bars at playground
- Be okay with falling down a bit more
- Sprint to places randomly
- Lift more weights
- Find a reason to get outside
- Move
Entrepreneur? Do more entrepreneurial things
- Find a problem solve it.
- Be an entrepreneur in your day job
- Turn a hobby into a side hustle
- Come up with 10 new ideas a day
- Start a website
- Do $0/hour work
Zen? Do more zen things
- Take a cold shower, don’t move the whole time.
- Do 10 minutes of headspace
- Go outside and stare at the ocean, mountains, tree, leaves, grass
- Float in a sensory deprivation tank
- Spend more time stretching
Don’t worry if you’re doing it wrong, if you screw up, if it’s hard or you have no idea what you’re doing. You’ll figure it out once you start moving.
Want to be ____ type person? Do more things that that person would do.
Want to be a writer? Do more writer things. Want to be an athlete? Do more athletic things. Want to be an entrepreneur? Do more entrepreneurial things. Want to be more zen? Do more zen things.
Get off the couch. Become the person you want to be.
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“Want to be a writer? Do more writer things. Want to be an athlete? Do more athletic things. Want to be an entrepreneur? Do more entrepreneurial things. Want to be more zen? Do more zen things.”
Damn that’s a good one.
Good motivation
I want to be more ninja so I’ll be doing more ninja things. Great stuff in this post Joel!
Wow, thanks Joel. This was a great, well-timed wake up call for me! I’m in between opportunities at the moment and was actually laying in bed earlier today running down the list of things I haven’t accomplished that I feel I should’ve already at this stage of my life. It didn’t feel good, to tell you the truth. I need to get out of that funk and get moving. That’s the only way I can get closer to fulfilling the beneficial goals I want to take care of. You rock, dude. Keep up the great work!
Great article! Thanks for all the links and reminding about 10 ideas/day
Absolutely, agree with you 100%. In a way, it is easier said than done. In my case, changing the surrounding helps a lot in getting on track. So in order to practice those habits, I try to find a mentor and try to work with them.
This was very inspiring and helpful. Thanks!
Exelente post!
Muchas gracias por la motivacion Joel!
Joel…these types of of posts will never, ever, ever get old. Thank you.
This is an extraordinary mindset framework … I hope to make use of this hack when I find myself getting stuck in the near future … thanks!
I rarely watch movies, but after an intense bout of food poisoning a couple days ago I had no energy and decided to watch Fight Club. In Fight Club, ultra-badass Brad Pitt is the imaginary friend of the main character that embodies everything he wants to be but isn’t. Imagining the badassery of Brad Pitt, the main character, who was this extremely ordinary dude, actually does everything his ideal self would do.
Sure, it’s just a movie, but it got me thinking along similar lines of this article. Envisioning what your ideal, badass self would do if you were fearless and perfectly confident, and then trying to follow in the footsteps of your ideal self.
Anyway, great thoughts. Great article. Keep pushing your limits and helping everyone else push theirs!
That’s a great idea, man!