Monday Motivational Memo: Overcoming Sadness & Fear

August 22, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

When changing your habits, do not focus on what you have to give up; look toward what you will receive in the end.

Change involves letting go of something, whether it’s a relationship or a way of life. That can be sad or frightening. Since no one WANTS to feel those, we tend to hang on longer than it’s healthier or productive to do so.

If, however, we turn our attention towards what we will receive from the change, it’s more inspirational. We are more inclined to move in the direction of what we want.

If you’re feeling stuck in your progress, it helps to remind yourself more of why you’re moving forward and less of what you have to give up to get it.

Note: Every Monday, a new motivational memo is posted. Subscribers to ThisTimeIMeanIt.com’s coaching service get this – and many more benefits – sent to them directly. If you’d like to know more, follow this link.

Stop Worrying so Much

August 15, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Worry is interest on a debt not yet owed.

We get confused. We think if we can just worry “hard enough,” we can make things go better.

Logically, that doesn’t make sense. But this isn’t about logic. It’s about emotion.

If something is worrying you, follow this simple plan:

1) Ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” If the answer is minimal, refocus your thoughts on something else.
2) If it’s severe, ask yourself, “Can I do anything about this?”
3) If the answer is “no,” it’s time to get support and let go. If the answer is “yes,” it’s time to do something.

No path leads to more worrying.

Worrying depletes your ability to solve the tough problems, and ruins your mood the remainder of the time.

Note: Every Monday, a new motivational memo is posted. Subscribers to ThisTimeIMeanIt.com’s coaching service get this – and many more benefits – sent to them directly. If you’d like to know more, follow this link.

Monday Motivational Memo: Using Time Well

August 8, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Take five minutes now – save countless hours later.

“There’s never enough time to do something right first time, but there is always enough time to go back and do it again.” – Anon

The only area in which we are all identical is that we each have 24 hours in a day. Successful people use their time better. That’s really the only difference.

Again, another memo inspired by true-to-life experiences… (Aren’t they all?)

I have about five pairs of shoes. I keep them under my bed. Unfortunately, whenever I need to grab a pair of shoes, the pair I inevitably choose is the wrong one or a mismatch. Eventually, I have to get down on my hands and knees and search under the bed for the pair I want. Of course, by this time, they’re all messed up. I get frustrated. I get annoyed. I could solve the problem simply by arranging the shoes in some sort of logical order. However, I keep saying, “I don’t have time; I’m in too much of a rush.” Instead of taking a few moments to make it work long-term, I get to be frustrated over and over and over again – which of course uses more and more time.

Today, I got smart. I rearranged the shoes.

What have you been frustrated about that you could very simply solve by taking a few minutes to correct right now?

Do it – and then post a comment to let everyone know what you did. We’ll all feel successful together.

Finding the Positives

August 1, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Catch yourself doing something RIGHT today.

This was actually triggered by something that happened to me today. I was moving a table to get to an electric socket. In the process, I knocked a ceramic mug of pens off the table. I caught the mug before it hit the ground and therefore prevented the pens from spilling all over the floor.

[Read more…]

Accepting Compliments Helps Avoid Bad Habits

July 18, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

A compliment denied is punishment self-inflicted.”

We are very quick to beat ourselves up – and incredibly slow to congratulate ourselves. We also tend to dismiss it when others do, by showing off our “big but.” You know…

A friend says, “Wow! You look like you’ve lost a whole lot of weight! You look great!”

We reply, “Yeah, but, I’ve got so far to go.”

Or, someone says, “You are a great mom! I can’t believe how well you take care of your children.”

And again, “Yeah, but, you should have seen me last week. I was like a banshee.”

There is a tremendous difference between being proud of what we do and being conceited. Each time we deny a compliment — or beat ourselves up over a mistake – we avoid the opportunity to feel good. That engages our habit (whether that be eating, drinking, smoking, stress…) and we end up feeling worse, furthering the drive to engage in the habit.

Remember, if guilt & shame were motivational, we’d all be happier, healthier, and more successful.

Enjoy a compliment this week – and pass one on.

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