53: The Magical Thought That Will Help You Take Action

You're really good at starting things, but shoot, you're also really good at stopping things.

You're really good at starting running plans and going to clinics at the running store, but when something in life pops up, you stop moving your body altogether.

You're really good at waking up early for a few days, but then one day you miss the alarm, you say F it, and snooze the rest of the week.

You're really good at eating healthy for most of the day, but in the evening after work, you stop that way of being and find all the packages of cookie dough.

No one is saying you need to be rigid, perfect, and acting as if you're in the military, but like, shoot, you've been starting and stopping these plans for years, and you're just frustrated you're in the same spot year after year!

If you want to move forward, you are going to have to give yourself a lil push.

You know that you're the one standing in the way of your success.

You know that you have self-sabotaging thoughts that keep you the same.

And even if staying the same is dysfunctional, you will continue staying there because change feels hard, scary, and unknown.

Here's what we're going to do today. Together! We're going to make a Magical Action Thought. When you have this thought in your back pocket, you're going to be able to take daily action on the life you want.

Remember that before your action or inaction, there is a thought. The thought comes from your identity/beliefs about yourself.

Example:

Let's pretend you are working on BEING A MORNING PERSON and doing some self-care habits before you start your work day. Usually, you stay in bed until the last minute, but when you do that, you're scrolling on your phone and you wind up not having time to exercise, journal, and read before work.

Your old self is going to be thinking thoughts that keep you the same.

Old belief/identity: NOT a morning person, definitely a morning snoozer, someone who is always late and never gets things done, someone who stays stuck in life

Thoughts: "I don't want to get out of bed. I don't feel like doing anything. I just want to stay here. I don't want to have to do all those things. I'm not doing them today."

Actions: Stay in bed. Continue pressing the snooze button. Continue scrolling social media.

Results: Staying stuck. Staying the same. Not being a morning person. Continuing to be a morning snoozer.

To become your aspirational self, you need a Magical Action Sentence to break that thinking pattern.

Let's play out the same scene if you have a Magical Action Thought in your backpocket.

Aspirational belief/identity: Becoming a morning person, being someone who exercises, journals, and reads before the work day.

Thoughts: "I don't want to get out of bed. I don't feel like doing anything. I just want to stay here. I don't want to have to do all those things. I'm not doing them today."

Magical Action Thought: "OOOOH. I am doing that thing again. I want better for myself. Just get to the bathroom. Don't think about anything else. Just get to the bathroom."

Actions: Get self to the bathroom and then your brain is like, "Oh ok, we know what to do now." You start brushing your teeth, head to the kitchen for your morning drinking game, and head to your space for your self-care session.

Results: Moving forward! BEING a morning person. Getting shit done. Not being in the same spot a year from now!

Ok, how to craft your Magical Action Thought.

It should be short.

It might name a location you need to get yourself to.

It's basically just the first step of everything else.

Do not overwhelm yourself! Keep it short.

Some examples from my clients:

"Just get to the garage." <----- Client has all here workout equipment in the garage, and once she gets to the garage, her brain knows what next steps to take. There's no thinking involved. The Magical Action Sentence gets her there, and then everything else falls into place.

"Just get to the basement." <----- Client has all her workout equipment in the basement.  Once she is there, she knows what to do. She also has permission to just foam roll or stretch if lifting weights is too much that day. But she still has to get to the basement!

Me:

"Just get outside." <----- I will play games in my head about the weather or how hard it is going to be to go for a run. But once I am outside, the thoughts vanish. I'm usually like, "Oh, this wasn't so bad. I'm here. I guess I'll now."

If you're struggling to eat healthy, your Magical Action Thought might be:

"Just put some plants on your plate." <---- You don't have to worry about the meal being perfect, but if you have 1-2 cups of plants on your plate, you're more likely to eat them and feel good/not gross!

When you create and use your Magical Action Thought, you will get yourself to do the thing!

You will notice your self-sabotaging thoughts, you will have an action plan to ease them, and you will be able to consistently take daily action.

When you take daily action, you will create growth.

You'll feel happier. You'll feel accomplished.

You'll feel proud of yourself for moving forward.

So make sure to create your Magical Action Thought.

Remember:

1. Isolate the self-preserving/self-sabotaging thought that is keeping you stuck.

2. Create a SHORT Magical Action Thought to move you forward.

3. When the self-preserving/self-sabotaging thought pops up, use the Magical Action Thought and go do the thing. 

Want to see your how your daily actions add up and move you forward on the life you want?

Use the 365 Habit Tracker!

Grab the 365 Habit Tracker right here.

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xo,

Jaclyn