Events do not cause what we feel, but what we tell ourselves
about these events does cause what we feel.
Many people may seem to be unmotivated but they are really
discouraged. Perhaps they have come to
believe that, no matter what they do, the results will not be there, so what is
the use? They should remember that
discouragement is more a result of what they are telling themselves as opposed
to being about the event itself.
Discouragement is a style of thinking which focuses on end results and a
self-counselling of our fears. Encouragement is a style of thinking that focuses more on the process and
on possibilities.
Try and avoid talking to yourself about results and fears
(again, never counsel your fears) as opposed to process and strengths. Develop a "go to script" for
pressure situations: "Trust," "Read and React," "No
judgment. With these phrases you are having audible, observable thoughts that
encourage yourself.
How do you talk to you?
Do you discourage you? Do you say
that this undertaking cannot be done? Do
you say, "I have to win?" Or
do you encourage yourself step by step?
Do you talk yourself through the process?
Here are two of the best encouragement phrases:
- ‘The bamboo encouragement principle’ - If you water bamboo one, two, three years, you get nothing. But then the fourth year, the bamboo grows nine feet in six weeks.
- 'Keep planting grass; don’t pull weeds' - Paying attention to the weeds is counselling your fears. Planting grass is encouraging your strengths.
Your greatest enemy when under pressure is mental fatigue
and discouragement. But if you can keep
from growing weary, in doing well in due season, you will reap if you faint
not. Keep on fighting weary until
finding renewed energy. Talk to you, out
loud if you have to, saying, "Keep planting grass; don’t pull
weeds." Or "Keep watering the
bamboo." Or maybe "I am just
too stubborn to give up, so weary I hear you knocking, but you can’t come
in." Whatever you do, just keep on
keeping on.
