Rx: Checklist Mentality?

To the one who likes to 'just get it done',

Sure, 'checking the box' on activities has yielded some benefit - that's why you keep doing it.

However, I've seen way too many times in my training of clients, that attitude, which is designed to make one focused and efficient, actually slows down objective progress.

Here's why: You have a plan, you know what to do, and you just get to it.

What's the problem, right?

It starts becoming about 'getting it done', instead of doing it in the way which will be beneficial. And, you signed up for this activity for a benefit, right? I"ll bet you didn't sign up for the sake of doing it alone... this isn't an ice cream cone or Disney World.

 -->You check the box, and you become hasty, rushed, unfocused, disengaged, less energetic in the process.

Then you realize, you didn't WANT to do it anyway; you just convinced yourself that you HAD to. This makes the problem worse.

Pretty soon, you aren't even doing it! You fell off the wagon...already (or again)!

You convinced yourself that it was unnecessary or not worth it, because it wasn't working or it was too painful.

Which is further exasperated because you weren't taking it seriously, because you wanted to 'just get it done', because you didn't realize how important it was, because you didn't want to do it in the first place.

 It tends to happen slowly,  maybe a few days, to a few weeks; A few months at most without some serious accountability and support.

"This plan" that the trainer gave you isn't working anymore...your body must have "plateaued"

Or, "maybe this is as far as I can go..." Maybe...there is just a certain amount of misery you'll have to deal with...

Or, "I don't think the trainer is a right fit for me. It's too expensive anyway"
Or,  "I don't think he understands how difficult it is for me to eat vegetables and quit smoking". 
Or, one of the worst "I'm just too busy right now to commit to all of this"

And so on, all of which lead to disaster.

 If you want to do well, you'll have to humble yourself, get some help, and make the necessary sacrifices. I'm not talking about unduly harsh treatment here, I'm talking about doing what it takes to live well.

I was at a goal workshop with Eric Therwagner recently. One thing that stuck out to me, as he told his story and shared his ideas on doing well in life, was the example of Helen Keller.

-->She was blind, deaf, mute - but learned to write, and wrote a book (among many other impressive feats)! Come on...I think it's time to throw those old, tired excuses away.


You can stumble along, but don't let bad thinking and a residual tag-team of fear and laziness get the best of you!

You probably need a different approach than what you've ever done. Maybe more, maybe less to start. Maybe more help. A few more tools, tips and techniques. A better reason to commit. A better plan. Better friends. More organization.

All of the above?

 Don't be among the people who relax their grip on reality, and settle into the lull of complacent actions that look nice on paper. 

Don't do it.

It's not worth it. Paraphrasing Jim Rohn: Discipline is heavy and unpleasant - but not nearly as bad as the regret from NOT being disciplined.

Some people think eating organic vegetables and grass-fed meats and fruit is an extreme way to live...but so is permitting cancer, diabetes and heart-disease (most of which is preventable) to get the best of you.

So, in a world of extremes: Who will you side with? I'll be having some vegetables in a moment.

Think on, carry on, press on - and don't ever give up.

You can do it. Probably not as you've tried before, but you CAN do it.

JG