"I'll tackle this once I have more financial resources."
"I'll tackle this once the kids are older."
"I'll tackle this after my birthday celebration."
The above statements reflect a victim mentality.
People may believe that they will have to tackle advanced time management techniques when dealing with challenging circumstances, and feeling overwhelmed.
Victims often have good intentions to improve their lives, but then feel too busy to take action, and get caught up in their problems.
I once collaborated with a highly successful executive, who was also a devoted mother and wife. She was so confident in her plans that she even made a concrete roadmap.
She had plans to celebrate her birthday the next week, complete painting the house, and then move forward with her action plan. Two years have since passed, and she is still yet to act on them. She is too busy to prioritize the things that truly matter.
People may believe that they will have to tackle advanced time management techniques when dealing with challenging circumstances, and feeling overwhelmed. However, they do not understand that situations, even dramatic ones like bankruptcy, divorce, death, or economic recession, do not directly cause emotions. Emotions like sadness, depression, frustration, anger, and anxiety can only be produced when a situation is interpreted, and the interpretation is believed. So, we can only be overwhelmed by our thoughts about a situation, not the situation itself. We often scare ourselves with our imagination.
“This recession is making us more honest and stronger," versus "This recession is bringing me down." Both statements are a personal choice. The first one expresses energy and enthusiasm, while the latter conveys sadness and exhaustion.
The feeling of being overwhelmed by outside events, choices, situations, or ways of making money is an illusion. Living a simple life where you focus on one task at a time can prevent feelings of overwhelm. This type of life must be actively created, it will not simply happen on its own.
I used to waste my creative ideas by not taking action, leading me to negative self-labeling. Now, I do not dwell on past regrets or try to understand them. I focus on the present moment, identifying my desired behavior and taking action toward it. I prioritize finishing what I start and going on the offensive, as the best defense is a strong offense.
People who prioritize well-being in their life focus on taking the next step toward success. They act NOW and prioritize what is important, disregarding distractions. This approach results in a life filled with love and purpose.
The moment of action is NOW. Moreover, if cannot be now, they set precise deadlines for their goals, ensuring that they remain focused and in the present moment. Deadlines become a helpful tool for them, allowing them to plan and execute tasks with a sense of urgency. For example, they set specific deadlines like hiring a CEO by August 1st, cutting the grass by Friday, or meeting a friend on Saturday afternoon.
Feelings are not caused by situations.
My wife and I hosted a backyard barbeque with friends. During the event, a house snake arrived. One friend panicked and nearly had a panic attack while yelling and running away, while another friend picked up the snake and declared it a "beautiful creature." This friend identified the snake as a non-harmful species and showed it to the children, teaching them about it. Some children even showed courage by touching the snake.
My wife and I had seen the snake around before. Despite experiencing the same event, people had completely different reactions and behavior. This highlights the power of our minds and the choices we make in terms of what we allow our brains to process.
It's our beliefs and interpretations that shape our emotions, not the situation itself. The beauty of life is that events are neutral and it is up to us to assign meaning to them.
I love walking in the rain!
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