Behaviour

We don’t spend much time thinking about the differences between our thoughts and feelings and what we actually do. Behaviour is an action: it’s something that we do for a reason, it’s also observable, and therefore measurable.

Notice what your mind is telling you when you want to do some behaviours that you might feel could be difficult, boring, scary or challenging. Notice that you can do the behaviour even when your mind is telling you “you can’t” “it won’t be worth it” “you hate doing this”. Notice that you can do the behaviour when your feelings are strong and pushing you away from the behaviour.

Because your thoughts and feelings strongly influence your behaviour, you may find it difficult to do some behaviour. Notice though, that despite what you are thinking and feeling, you can do the behaviour. For example, say to yourself, “I can’t walk across the room” and then actually get up and walk across the room. Or else, you could say, “I can’t read all the information in this book” and then actually read some paragraphs.

Your mind may come up with lots of additional information. “I can’t understand the text in this book. It’s too hard for me” and “I don’t want to walk at all - I’m too tired”. These are ideas and reasons your creative mind has produced – and there is no limit to the reasons that your mind can invent in order to support an idea.

Can you tell when your mind is reason giving and making excuses? Can you notice when it is telling you things that are undermining your goals and your intentions? If you can notice when your mind is producing a long list of reasons - you can see them as lightweight reasons and excuses And then go do the behaviour anyway.

What you can do

When you start out to do something - be prepared to hear reasons, excuses and ideas from your mind. Notice also what you are feeling. Then do the behaviour despite what your mind is telling you.