If you are anything like me, than you aren’t really lazy. Even if you sometimes tell yourself that you are.
I bet you can name at least 10 projects or accomplishments that you finished in the last 3 months . I’m sure there are some really big ones on that list too. If you are having trouble thinking of 10 things than that may be the problem.
You see one of the bad habits that many of us have fallen into is not giving ourselves credit for our accomplishments. We have been brought up in families and a society that frowns on the idea of self praise. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting you go around telling everyone how great you are, reciting your resume or listing all the things you have done. I am simply asking you if you give yourself credit for what you have actually accomplished? Really take it in and own your successes.
Have you graduated from school? Have you gotten a job, worked hard, earned raises or promotions? Have you mastered a skill or competed athletically? Are you an artist or writer? Have you built anything? Have you faced an illness or an addiction? Have you ended an unhealthy relationship? Have you raised a child or cared for sick family member or friend? I know what you are probably saying…Sure, I may have done some of those things but they weren’t perfect, I didn’t win, it was expected, nobody bought it etc.. Stop the stories of not being enough and just for today, acknowledge it. You do a lot.
These are the stories that we tell ourselves that prevent us from allowing ourselves the credit we deserve and they plant the seeds of laziness in our mind. Why can’t the fact that you did it be enough? Sure, it’s nice to get recognition in other ways but if we don’t give it to ourselves than eventually we lose any sense of accomplishment and maybe even give up. Worse yet, if we depend on recognition from others to validate our accomplishments we are setting ourselves up for serious personal and professional challenges. Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times before he succeeded in inventing the light bulb. Many people doubted his ability and his aptitude. Do you think he gave himself credit for trying?
Here is my challenge for you. Try it for one week. Keep a list of all the things you get done in a day. The little ones and the big ones. After the week is up look at the entire list and ask yourself if it looks like the list of a lazy person. I didn’t think so.
Success is an inside job. All you can control are your words, actions, thoughts and feelings. Start today by losing the word lazy from describing yourself and see how much more you can get done.
Matthew Greene Jonas is a High Performance Strategist and Master Hypnotist who coaches clients to achieve their greatest wealth, health, life and relationships. Learn more about him and his work at www.hundredproofperformance.com.