289. How To Be Awesome At ACTUALLY Doing The Thing

This episode is all about sneaky procrastination!   Because I think all of us in some ways trick ourselves into thinking we are doing the thing- that thing you want to do or need to do - the hard thing that will bring you growth in the way you want - whatever that thing is for you right now.    And instead of actually doing the thing - we do a whole host of things like - make lists, we say we are planning, we talk about it, we do endless research on it OR we avoid it completely and go refold drawers or something.    I am going to read you the best short article I’ve read on the topic and we’re going to unpack it so you can apply it to your life in real time.    Why do we let ourselves get distracted or procrastinate when something feels hard or uncomfortable?  What are we doing to trick ourselves to think we are working on it when actually we just aren’t doing the thing?   I read this article by Strangest Loop called    things that aren't doing the thing      Here it is:    Preparing to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing. Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing isn't doing the thing. Writing a banger tweet about how you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on yourself for not doing the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on other people who have done the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing isn't doing the thing. Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading about how to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading about how other people did the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading this essay isn't doing the thing. The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing. -------------------   You can dress it up however you want  But the work just needs doing    Ultimately - it’s hitting play and recording the podcast or starting the blog or lifting the weight or making the first healthy meal.    We are motivated by the avoidance of discomfort.    Figure out - what is the discomfort?   Often times, have no idea what the discomfort is - we are just avoiding it.    If you have a hard email to write, you might refold and entire set of drawers to avoid doing the thing.    Or if you get to a hard point in writing a book - when it gets hard - we reach for our phone for distraction. WHY Because we are avoiding the discomfort.  Ask- WHY am I avoiding this? Maybe you need more research. Don’t keep banging your head. When you become aware of the discomfort - you make a plan to attack it.    I’ve heard Steven Bartlette say it in this way…  What is the psychological discomfort I am avoiding right now?      Write down - what is the THING.  Unpack it.    WHY it’s important to force yourself to do the actual thing… because it’s the only thing that matters in becoming the person you want to be or reaching the goal you want to achieve.    Thank you for listening!  Have an awesome day!