Do I Have To?

This week’s post is short, but sweet, and may be one of the most valuable techniques I can share with you.

It’s about re-programming the script that runs through your head. 

When the script is tuned improperly, it drives negativity and unhappiness.  It turns stress into anxiety, opportunity into dread, and gratitude into apathy.

I call it the “I have to” script.

It’s when we think things like “Today, I have to do x” or “Why do I have to do y?”.

Because when we tell ourselves we HAVE to do something… we’re telling ourselves we have no control over our lives.  We’re telling ourselves that we don’t have a choice to do what we want to do.

In some ways, we’re training ourselves to be victims in our own lives.

But life is about creation!  And we get to choose every single minute who we want to become and what life we want to live.

You literally don’t “have to” do anything, as long as you understand the consequences of your actions. You get to educate yourself enough to weigh the pros and cons of every decision in your life before taking action – a liberating thought.

So how do we re-program the script?

We’ve got to be guardians of our mind and teach it discipline.  Every time you think of all the things you “have to” do, simply pause….

And re-frame it.

Let’s take a look at a common one.  I have to go to work on a Monday morning.

Pause….

No….

I choose to go to work this morning.  It’s not always the easiest to get out of bed, but work gives me a sense of pride.  It gives me the ability to make a difference every day (no matter how big or small), provide for my family, who I am very lucky to have, and do many of the things I enjoy doing outside of work. If this job was affecting my life negatively more than it does positively, I would make the choice to find a different opportunity.

That’s just one example, but I’m sure if you pay attention to how you speak to yourself throughout the day, you’ll find many more opportunities to start the re-programming process.

It will feel extremely forced at first, and it’s not easy, but given time, commitment, and discipline, you’ll start to see your mind naturally starts thinking this way.

When the mind naturally starts thinking this way, you’ll find yourself feeling more fulfilled, gracious, and ready to take on the opportunities that come your way. ​

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