Keep Going

Today is Never Give Up Day! Except, I am renaming it to Keep Going Day. Today is all about living a life filled with forward momentum, determination, and taking on challenges head first. Why am I renaming the day? Read On…

Speak in the Affirmative

20 years ago exactly I took a parenting class with Marilyn McGrath at Santa Monica College while pregnant with Lucas. I absorbed everything she taught and to this day it remains one of the most impactful classes I’ve ever taken. On ANY subject.

One of the ideas she taught was to speak in the affirmative, especially to young children. So, instead of telling them what you don’t want them to do, tell them what you do want.

No – Don’t pull the cat’s tail.

Yes – Pet the cat nicely.

The reasoning is that as humans our mind eliminates the  word “don’t” and focuses on the rest of the command. We are left thinking about pulling on the cat’s tail. Think about that, when you read “don’t pull the cat’s tail,” do you have a mental image of someone pulling a cat’s tail? What image is in your mind when you read “pet the cat nicely?”

Don’t think of pink elephants.

Don’t think of anything.

Thought Suppression Science

It isn’t possible to avoid a thought when told to not think about it. But is IS when told to think about something specific instead. In fact, the more we are told to NOT think about something, the more we think about it, even more so than if the discussion about not thinking about hadn’t happened. More attention is brought to it and we think about it even more. This phenomenon is referred to the paradoxical effects of thought suppression. Read more about it here, a fascinating 30-second read.

So, out with the “don’t” statements and in with speaking in the affirmative.

Therefore, today is Keep Going Day!

Today is about celebrating the mindset of determination, celebrating those who have pushed through adversity to realize their goals and dreams, inspiring others along the way. Today we also recognize those currently working on their goals. And finally, we look at ourselves to improve our own mindsets.

Keep Going Success Stories

Which influential people come to mind when you think of determination?

Here’s my off the top of my head list:

• The Wright Brothers
• Abraham Lincoln
• Albert Einstein
• Michael Jordan
• Walt Disney
• Colonel Sanders

Here are a lot more.

What if any of these people had given up? History would be rewritten and we wouldn’t be mm mm lickin’ our fingers, that’s what!

Current Strivers

Who around you is currently working through goals? What can you do to help support them, giving them a boost of Keep Going? Reach out today!

YOU!

Imagine the impact you can have if you keep going in your life! With anything, everything, small goals, large goals. All of it. Rephrase your self-talk in the affirmative, starting today!

Today we replace The Easy Button with The Yes Button. Yes to your goals, yes to your challenges, yes to YOU, yes to whatever it takes to keep going.

Do This NOW

Write down one important challenge and a personal message to yourself of how you will keep going, framed in the affirmative.

Here’s mine for today – Today is a busy day with appointments and commitments, a long drive, a college move-in, the schedule tightly packed. It is important to stay on point in order for everything to happen as planned and have an enjoyable, stress-free day. When things feel overwhelming, break it down to the present moment and KEEP GOING. This is the way to success today.

To bear trials with a calm mind robs misfortune of its strength and burden.

– SENECA, HERCULES OETAEUS, 231–232

What is yours? Post in the comments! Scroll down…KEEP GOING…the comment box just below this post.

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