If you’re not in the mood to do what you need to do, to get done what needs getting done, especially when you want to get it done, then here are some bizarre ways to light up your brain and get yourself propelled forward:
1. Take out a pen or pencil and begin drawing a series of straight lines. Don’t try to draw the straightest lines you can draw. Instead, mentally picture a straight line being drawn as you move the instrument. If the line isn’t as straight as it would be when using a ruler, then join the club. Even seasoned artists cannot draw lines that straight. After drawing some straight lines, you can move to wavy lines, circles and figure 8’s. Five minutes of his exercise is all you need to kick start your brain.
2. Get your hands dirty by working with plants and trees. If you have a garden, this is easy. If not, you nowhere to go to get started.
Digging into the earth with your hands and feet does more than activate the brain, though. When you take care of what you previously planted, when you observe the seasonal, automatic changes taking place, your mind cannot help but ponder whether or not a Creator’s hand is involved. As you look at the laws of nature with something you planted, you are drawn to examine how these same laws are operating in your life.
3. Do something noisy. Whether it’s beating a drum, cracking a whip, knocking over pins (bowling), hitting golf balls, playing ping pong, singing/chanting, shooting free throws or tapping your fingertips or feet on a floor or table, your brain loves the repetitive sound of noise. It doesn’t take long, either, for your brain to relax, to leave the limbic world of fight, flight or freeze and enter the world of the creative gene-yes (genius).
All of these exercises give you some creative ways to blow off steam and gain a feeling of control over your life.
It’s true, sometimes, even when we want to get going, we can resist doing so. This is when it is a grand idea to pull some tools out of your grab bag and get yourself going, without even realizing you are doing so. Giving your hands something to do is ideal because your hands (and feet) have more nerve endings connected to your brain than any other areas of the body.
See it. Feel it. Be it.
Matt Furey
Psycho-Cybernetics.com
P.S. For more information on getting coached in Psycho-Cybernetics and Theatre of the Mind, go here.
Big Goals – Big Energy?
If you want more energy for each day, then set your goals BIG and think BIGGER.
But what if you’ve already done that and you can’t get yourself out of bed in the morning because you’re paralyzed with fear, worry and self-doubt?
This is what happens to many people who’ve been taught the standard goal-setting procedures. You know the ones I’m talking about. The ones where you set big, hairy, ludicrous goals, especially ones that “scare” you.
Yes, it is ludicrous to set a goal that scares you. And it is the polar opposite of what Dr. Maltz taught in Psycho-Cybernetics.
As for goals that inspire you, that’s a different story altogether.
The truth is it doesn’t take a big goal to get you off your duff. Small, simple goals that you can nail on a daily basis will definitely do. And then once a month or every two weeks, you stretch yourself. You go where you’ve never gone before – yet you do so without anxiety, worry or the ridiculous notion of “getting out of your comfort zone.”
Huh? What?
You mean I don’t need to get out of my comfort zone?
Correct. You need to find your comfort zone and expand it without even trying to do so, without giving any thought to it whatsoever.
Want to learn how to do this? Then contact me about coaching by going here.
See it. Feel it. Be it.
Matt Furey
When Goal Setting Isn’t Working
There are many reasons that so many goal setting methods don’t work for the majority of the people who use them.
Here are seven of those reasons:
1. The goals are too big.
2. The goals tend to create fear, panic, anxiety and nervousness.
3. The goals don’t spontaneously put you “in the zone” – and the teachers of the methods erroneously claim that ALL success comes from getting OUT of your comfort zone. This is easily refuted by observing how quickly children (and adults) learn when they are comfortable versus how difficult it is for them to learn when their nerves are rattled.
4. The goals involve too many action steps.
5. The goals are all about money, status, fame and power.
6. The goals are things you think you “should” do, be or have rather than what is best for you.
7. The goals are only about results and never cover a procedural system that will make attainment of the objective much easier.
Yes, there are people who believe the opposite of what I’ve shown above, but as I so often tell them, “Find the places in Psycho-Cybernetics where Dr. Maltz teaches you to do any of the above. And when you find that I am in error, give me the page, paragraph and line.”
I seriously doubt you’ll be able to find Dr. Maltz telling you to “set goals that scare you,” or to “get out of your comfort zone.”
Why?
Because neither of these notions helps facilitate your brain and nervous system automatically and effortlessly moving toward the targets you have in mind.
Tis true.
How about setting goals that inspire you, goals that create momentum, goals that catapult you into “the zone” where everything you do feels as though you have the magic touch?
That’s what I teach, my friend.
If you want to learn how to truly apply Psycho-Cybernetics, then check out mycoaching program, by going here.
See it. Feel it. Be it.
Matt Furey
What the H?
A lot of people ask the wrong questions.
“How are you going to do that? How are you going to make more, do more, be more?”
These are what I call “What the H?” questions. They are out of line, as well as out of order.
Your top priority is having your “what?” established.
A “what question” asks you to search your mind for a specific target. A “how question” tends to begin an internal debate about whether the target is within the realm of possibility.
There is a time and a place for “how questions,” but it is NOT before you ask “what questions.”
Picture what you want. Choose a specific target. After doing so, you can ask yourself how you’re going to pull it off, how you going to get it done.
Or, better yet, you can continue asking yourself what questions, such as, “What am I going to do to get this done? What am I prepared and willing to do to create this result?”
One of the biggest keys to using Psycho-Cybernetics effectively is establishing the WHAT before the HOW.
“What’s my goal for today?” causes an entirely different mindset than, “How am I going to get through today?”
What questions get you to think in terms of possibilities that can become realities. How questions keep you locked in resistance-mode over whether or not you can accomplish something.
Replace your how with a what –
and you’ll walk with a strut.
See and experience the difference –
of living life without resistance.
See it. Feel it. Become it.
Matt Furey
P.S. More on turning How into What in my best-selling Nightingale-Conant program, Theatre of the Mind.
P.P.S. For information on coaching with me, go here
How We Grow
“Getting into the flow,
it’s how we grow;
and come to know,
our lives are but kneaded dough,
where we co-create the show,
with bendable bow,
and breakable arrow.”
Matt Furey
My Father’s Gratitude
My father was laid to rest yesterday afternoon in Florida National Cemetery. ’twas a grand moment to observe the military salute, the playing of Taps and the meticulous, respectful folding of the flag.
Since the passing of my father, who was 97, and a veteran of WW II, I am eternally grateful, not only for his life and the lessons he taught me, but also for the prayers and positive thoughts sent to me by so many. I have done my best to acknowledge everyone who has reached out to me in anyway. If I have overlooked you somehow, please accept my apologies as I say, “thank you” again.
Last weekend, a man wrote to tell me that there was no need to thank anyone, that the focus should be on me, my family and what the emotions we are dealing with. I appreciate this man’s words, but there is just no way I can do as he suggested. I literally feel compelled to thank each person who has written me, called or who came to see me at my father’s funeral.
This sense of duty is not something I came up with or read in a book. It was instilled in me by my father.
Just before Christmas, when my dad was in the hospital for a few days, I watched him thank every single nurse or doctor, every single time they came into his room, to help him. Whether he was brought a straw, a glass of water or a napkin, he would thank the person who helped him.
When a nurse was taking my dad’s temperature, he conveyed his dismay that he was unable to send Christmas cards to family because he was hospitalized. The nurse looked up and said, “Oh, I think they will understand.”
As I recall so many precious memories with my dad, feelings can volley around the court from one emotion to another. Thank goodness for my nightly practice of Dao Zou – which has definitely benefitted me in ways I did not foresee when I initially released the program.
I’m telling you about Dao Zou now because it continues to help me process and ultimately detach from emotions such as grief and sadness. There is no attempt to suppress or control the emotions with the program. You let the emotions flow as you rewind your mind and effortlessly enter another dimension; a dimension where peace that surpasses all understanding becomes part of you.
If you’re aware of someone who is battling sadness or other negative emotions, this non-thinking way to detach from them definitely works. I practice Dao Zou every night before bed – and I cannot stop raving about what a difference-maker it is.
Again, “thanks mucho” to all who have written me. Your words of comfort are greatly appreciated.
Best,
Matt Furey
The Wise Owl Goeth
Friends,
A wise one has left the planet. This morning, my father, 97+, took his final breath. He passed at home, in good company with family, as he so desired.
My father had one helluva run. His life was an ultra-marathon; 7 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was married for 63 years and lived seven years after his bride passed.
A veteran of WW II, he was honorably discharged, as his mother was gravely ill and he was the sole surviving son. I’ve often thought that dad’s mother not only saved his life, but helped fascilitate the one he and my mom built.
Since moving to Florida, my dad became a huge Tampa Bay Rays fan. Many of my fondest memories with my dad were of the two of us playing catch on the front yard at our home in Iowa, taking him to Rays games and giving him the opportunity to watch my son and daughter grow up, both of whom are left-handed, as was he.
Before saying goodbye, I held my father’s left wrist and felt his pulse for the first time. His heart was beating fast as he took his final lap.
God love you, Jimmy.
Your son,
Matt
Best Way to Practice Anything… and Get Good
The best way to practice something and get good is to do what almost nobody teaches.
Instead of applying more pressure during a practice or training session – you do the unthinkable: You eliminate the pressure from the equation.
As soon as you add the element of pressure to a practice, over-anxiety, over-motivation and excessive tension show up.
You can read all about this in Chapter 13 of Psycho-Cybernetics.
Each time I read this chapter, and I’ve been reading it since 1987, I get a new insight, a new idea, a different way to apply the teachings.
Shadowboxing is an example of how to practice without pressure. It was something I first began doing as a high school wrestler, but we called it shadow drilling.
When I used shadow drilling regularly, my results were off the charts. But because no one ever pulled me aside and told me about this “secret,” I didn’t realize until later on the correlation and connection between the victories I attained and the quiet solo workouts I had late at night when most people were sleeping.
A friend who played professional basketball and now coaches in the NBA, told me how he would get up early in the morning and shoot free throws when no one else was around. No crowd. No coach. No other players.
Zero pressure.
Did this help him improve his free throw shooting? In a big way.
Re-read Chapter 13 again. Mark it up and highlight it.
But do so in a quiet room when no one else is around.
I think you’ll find more than a few life-changers in those pages.
Matt Furey
Note: If you want to learn the details within the details of how to apply Psycho-Cybernetics and Theatre of the Mind, if you want to catapult yourself to the next level of success, then contact me about coaching.
Over-Motivation
All of us have seen people who are under-motivated, but can someone be over-motivated?
All throughout the latter chapters of Psycho-Cybernetics, Dr. Maltz refers to the dangers, not only of being overly-inhibited in word and deed, but also the pitfalls of being overly-hyped.
Yes, enthusiasm, motivation, inspiration and desire are essential qualities on a successful journey, but too much of any single quality can become a weakness. You can be so motivated to accomplish a goal that you push yourself out of contention. You have trouble relaxing and being natural because you want it sooooo bad.
There’s a fine line between having sufficient enthusiasm to accomplish an objective, and so much that you over-shoot the target.
Here are a few visuals of over-motivation:
1. Picture someone throwing wild haymakers in a fight instead of using short, quick and powerful jabs, hooks and uppercuts. As the fighter rears back with his best John Wayne impression, he gets popped several times.
2. A pitcher in softball or baseball is so determined to throw strikes that he or she cannot find the plate. Even worse, the ball sails over the catcher’s head, all the way to the backstop.
3. In a job interview, the applicant wants to be hired so badly that there is zero calmness under pressure. All the wrong answers are given for simple questions that you could easily handle if you were relaxed and at ease.
Back in my early years of business, the same client, Jack, who recommended Psycho-Cybernetics to me, told me he thought I was over-motivated. Even though I had read the book a couple times by then, I had no recall of the term “over-motivation.” The same is true of almost everyone I meet today and begin coaching.
Where is the fine line that separates having enough motivation and having too much?
That’s something you’ll discover over time, as you zig-zag your way through life. When you succeed, chances are you weren’t over-motivated. When you fail, you may have been lacking in desire. Then again, you might have had too much.
Keep in mind that a burning candle remains lit without you checking on it 24 hours a day. And so it is with a burning desire.
Check in once or twice per day to make sure your inner candle flame is still going. If it is still going, leave it alone.
Most candles don’t last a month. Most need to be replaced within a day. And so it is with your body, mind and soul. They need to be reignited on a daily basis.
When a candle is finished burning, start a new one. This is the same as practicing Theatre of the Mind. You learn to navigate, listen and feel when the light is going out, when the candle needs to be replaced. When it does, get it going. But don’t sit and watch the rest of the day to make sure it stays lit. Once the flame is going, trust the process and move through your day with the Zero Resistance Living mindset.
See it. Feel it. Be it.
Matt Furey
P.S. Interested in being coached by me? Then go here
Being Natural
One afternoon, many years ago, I was watching a documentary about a world famous preacher, and how he was being schooled in the art of public speaking, or what some might call, “giving a sermon.”
After numerous failed attempts to speak effectively, the teacher asked the preacher, “Do you know what you’re doing wrong?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I’m not being natural.”
“Correct,” said the teacher.
And so it goes with virtually anything we want to learn. We can get instruction from someone in order to maximize our abilities, but that instruction serves us best only when it helps us rediscover a sense of natural-ese.
We were most natural when we were infants. At that time we breathed from our lower bellies without instruction. We also moved with a spirit of relaxation. We smiled and laughed frequently. And we quickly let go of our mistakes.
Then we got educated and life became several scoops and helpings of unnecessary tension.
Getting back to being natural is what you accomplish with Psycho-Cybernetics and the Theatre of the Mind process. You stop fighting yourself and allow yourself to grow back into who you were when you were at your best. And that WHO was the person who was being natural.
It’s the you who knowingly or unknowingly, pictured what was wanted and went after it with gusto.
Rewind your mind. Become natural again.
Matt Furey
P.S. Interested in being part of my Mind Power Monthly Coaching this year. If so, drop me an email and tell me more.
