Do you interpret and then act or act and then interpret?

Day in day out we are exposed to events, tasks, results, and our own internal desires. Most of us interpret it and generate a vicious cycle of disaster (see the first figure-Interpretation before action).

Example:

• Result: we are exposed to our disorganized home


• Interpretation: Organizing the house is a painful and boring job


• Generate feeling: Feeling of boredom


• Form belief: I don't enjoy organizing


• Label: I am a poor organizer


• Action or avoid action: I do nothing about organizing the house


• Result: More disorganization

This vicious cycle continues till a major disaster strikes; Even then change is limited to your capacity to interpret.

Let me give you a virtuous cycle-(Act and then interpret)

Act: Instead of interpreting we begin to act. We postpone interpreting

Positive results: We make progress. We get positive results- apart of our house is now organized

Interpret: That wasn't difficult. In fact I liked organizing and I did get the house organized, even though it is a small area of the house

Generate positive belief: I am beginning to enjoy organizing; Organizing the house is easy if I start small and continue for a few days till I get the whole house spic and span.

Dislodge dysfunctional label: I am not a poor organizer.In I am a good organizer; In a few days I will be great organizer

This is a virtuous cycle that will put you well on the path to getting your house organized and you becoming a good organizer.

You can apply this virtuous cycle in every area of life.

Try it out! It will change your life.

What is your experience? Do share your thoughts here!
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Do you have the habit of checking on your resources before you venture upon something?

I caught the company bus today and I was well on my way to a meeting when I suddenly realized that it was raining outside. Even though it is a rainy season in Mumbai, we experienced little rain in the last few days; So I forgot to take an umbrella.

This set me thinking-If only I had checked on what resources I needed before I left for the day, I would not be without an umbrella.

Many of us jump at an activity or a journey without thinking through the resources we need to accomplish the activity or get through a journey.

It is not enough to set goals or define tasks, It is also important to define the resources we need to accomplish that goal or to do that task.

Goals can be achieved through action and if we need to act, we will need the resources that enables the action to be executed.

You need to do the following:

Have a resource pause and ask your self the following question:

What resources do I need?

This one question can save you a lot of time and trouble.

Try it out.

What is your experience? Do share your thoughts here!

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What is one of the best ways to boost your self-esteem?

One of the sure fire ways to boost your self-esteem is to help someone in real need of help. The help could be in form of you doing something for them or it could be a financial support when they need money suddenly or it could be both.

The more you help others in different ways, the more your self-esteem will grow.

How do you go about helping others?

Here are a few tips:

• Be alert to opportunities that will come by your way
• Scan your community and plan your help strategy
• Join social groups that are involved in helping others
• Begin with your friends and relatives

Try it out! The trick is not to wait for grand opportunities to help others, it is to grab any opportunity, even a small one and help others with a sincere desire to do so with no thought of any return from them in any kind.

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