Day 8: How to Feel Good: Lots Know it, Few Do It

"Life is a series of problems," said Scott Peck in The Road Less Travelled.

Hard to disagree.

So how we respond to problems plays a huge role in the quality of our lives.

I'm re-reading Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz.  On page 94 (original, 1960 version) he says: 

"Form the habit of reacting aggressively and positively toward threats and problems. Form the habit of keeping goal-oriented all the time, regardless of what happens.

"Do this by practicing a positive, aggressive attitude both in actual everyday situations which come up and also in your imagination.

• "See yourself in your imagination taking positive intelligent action towards solving a problem or reaching a goal. 
• "See yourself reacting to threats not by running away or evading them but by meeting them, dealing with them, grappling with them in an aggressive and intelligent manner."

What's a problem or challenge or task that feels formidable to you right now?  Pick something sort of small (not "lose 50 pounds").

See yourself handling it.

Experience going through it calmly, being in flow.

Create a clear mental picture of the thing done, handled.

Experience the good feeling of having accomplished it and being on the other side.

Then take action.

Repeat.

That's Playing Big,

Dr. Tom