If Only is a Very Common Thought - Does It Do any Good? Part 3 in the Inner Motivation series

As you saw previously in this Inner Motivation series, everybody has both a negative and a positive side to their character. The Cherokee Indians say you have a black wolf strenuously promoting the negative, and your white wolf gently advocating the positive. Following the black wolf has arduous consequences, while the white wolf brings you more desirable circumstances.

If Only ...
In the past, how much time have you spent saying: "If only..."? As in: "If only this had happened," or: "If only I had done that?"

You probably think you're progressing your life, but such thoughts are actually counter-productive since these speculations do not serve you. Why is this so?

Any such speculation is about what didn't happen, and you're wasting time thinking about what you know is not reality. It can't be a secret of success - it's not real.

Don't Feed the Black Wolf
What's real in life is reality, which is what's true. Yet you already know that illusion is not real, it's untrue. And when you start from untruth, any conclusions you draw are also going to be untrue. The problems come as the black wolf tries to get you to forget the illusion you started with, and pursue the conclusions anyway. But since they're based on an untruth, how can any such conclusions help change your life?

All "If only" thoughts about the past are about an untruth, they're deceptions stem from the black wolf. Yet whenever you give any energy to the black wolf you feed it, which makes it stronger. Since you'll find life more enjoyable when you aim to reduce if not eliminate arduous circumstances, you need to stop feeding the black wolf with its negative consequences.

Enjoy what's Real - Life!
Reality is life, and life is what's real. So enjoy life by spending your time focussing on what's real rather than deception and untruth. This is not to deny that illusions can be very enjoyable as entertainment, but in general the secret of success is to spend your time with what is, rather than wasting time on what isn't true.

If Only I could Afford It
In the past, how much time have you spent saying, If only I could afford it? This statement feeds the black wolf because it doesn't reflect reality, you only say this when you have already decided you can't afford it.

But there's a far more powerful question you can ask yourself instead: Can I afford NOT to invest the money or the time? This does not assume you can't afford it, it explores the value, the consequences and focuses on your goals.

Up till now, What percent of your time have you spent feeding the white wolf? From this point on, What percent of your time would you prefer to spend feeding the white wolf?'

What, if anything, is keeping you from implementing your answer to this last question? You can change your life by writing down your answer to these questions, this maximizes your benefits from thinking about the consequences.

© Copyright worldwide Cris Baker, www.LifeStrategies.net All rights reserved. Republishing welcomed under Creative Commons noncommercial no derivatives license preserving all links intact, so please +1 and share this widely!

Food for Thought
Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have.

Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American writer, lecturer, developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills