|
|
Initial plans are much like a building's blueprint. In and of itself, the drawing is essential for guaranteeing successful construction, but it also requires action to bring its vision into reality. Without proper execution, that blueprint is nothing more than a fleeting idea - a concept imprisoned on paper. That's why the execution phase of The Kaizen Effect is just as important as the planning stage - if not more; it plays the role of manifesting your dreams into reality. |
In previous lessons, great emphasis was placed upon initially forging a life purpose - an infallible plan which guides you towards success. The main idea was to first construct an inner framework capable of sustaining both your dreams and ensuing journey. However, these initial plans are much like a building's blueprint. In and of itself, the drawing is essential for guaranteeing successful construction, but it also requires action to bring its vision into reality. Without proper execution, that blueprint is nothing more than a fleeting idea - a concept imprisoned on paper. That's why the execution phase of The Kaizen Effect is just as important as the planning stage - if not more; it plays the role of manifesting your dreams into reality. If your plan is not coupled with massive, consistent action, then the life you wish to lead gradually fades into oblivion - along with the motivation to fight for it. Unfortunately, that's generally what happens; despite its importance, the execution phase is where most people falter. Thus, to combat such a downfall, this series is intended to arm you with a counteracting tool: momentum and flow states. Such a tool naturally promotes effortless engagement, and its utilization will reconnect your mind to the present moment - transforming action into an enjoyable, sustainable process.
|
In order to utilize this tool, it is essential to first understand its arch nemesis: mental resistance. When transitioning to the execution phase, we all typically face an initial roadblock to action. Since the mind is programmed to maximize output while minimizing effort, it will naturally refuse to expend energy in pursuit of your dreams. For example, suppose that you are given the option of working hard at the gym or sedentarily watching television. What option would you naturally choose? Since a gym workout demands considerably more effort and willpower, you will most likely be drawn to the path of least resistance – the activity demanding the least energy. Your mind will intuitively view the sedentary task as rewarding – a task which provides value with minimal cost; hence, it will use whatever logic in its power to guide you down that path – resisting most actions essential to your dreams. This resistance usually arises in the form of varying thought patterns and excuses: why work hard today when you can do it tomorrow; is this activity really going to benefit you; don’t you deserve some relaxation before tackling your dreams? Furthermore, concerns fueled by anxiety, stress, and malaise will also tarnish your focus and consume your attention - making it that much more difficult to engage. In this sense, our minds are sometimes our greatest enemies; they are one of the most rationalizing entities in existence and will convincingly lead you astray.
|
When transitioning to the execution phase, we all typically face an initial roadblock to action: mental resistance. Since the mind is programmed to maximize output while minimizing effort, it will naturally refuse to expend energy in pursuit of your dreams. It will use whatever logic in its power to guide you down the path of least resistance – resisting most actions essential to your dreams. In this sense, our minds are sometimes our greatest enemies; they are one of the most rationalizing entities in existence and will convincingly lead you astray. |
Accepting resistance generates “mental entropy”. It leaves the mind in a more disordered state – restricting access to your valuable attention and mental resources. When stuck in such a state, a portion of your mental energy and attention is always invested in thoughts irrelevant to the present moment. So, becoming fully immersed in any activity becomes impossible; only a fraction of your full consciousness - your ability to create and influence - is ever available. This significantly limits your capabilities and success rate, because our greatest work rises out of full immersion and engagement. Projecting your mental energy, resources, and attention into the present moment breeds ingenuity, and, without that ability, proper articulation becomes a monumental challenge |
Unfortunately, if you decide to accept and feed these excuses/concerns, not only will your dreams move further out of reach, but your ability to engage in the present moment will also vanish. This is due to the fact that accepting resistance generates “mental entropy”. It leaves the mind in a more disordered state – restricting access to your valuable attention and mental resources. For instance, let’s assume that you had sufficient willpower to start an essential activity, but suppose that you still question its necessity or effectiveness while taking action. Perhaps you are practicing to become a professional athlete and worry whether it is the right choice for you. As a result, you may find your mind drifting during practices, games, and other goal-oriented activities. If preoccupied with such extraneous thoughts, how could you possibly focus on the task at hand? A portion of your mental energy and attention will be invested in thoughts irrelevant to the present moment. So, becoming fully immersed in any activity becomes impossible; only a fraction of your full consciousness - your ability to create and influence - is ever available. This significantly limits your capabilities and success rate, because our greatest work rises out of full immersion and engagement. Projecting your mental energy, resources, and attention into the present moment breeds ingenuity. Without that ability, proper articulation becomes a monumental challenge; you risk potentially dying with your greatest works of art - your voice, calling, and message - bottled up inside your head forever.
|
This is why the best time to start any activity is NOW - not tomorrow or any other time in the future. Forget waiting to start; when you wait to start, you invest in excuses and limiting beliefs - leaving your mind in a more disordered state. It scatters your thoughts and pushes your mental energy, resources, and attention further out of reach. To complicate matters further, human beings are naturally creatures of habit; so, when prolonged, this hesitation and resistance gradually become the norm. Your mind is programmed to disengage - making it that much more difficult to start when absolutely necessary. On the contrary, when you decide to start NOW, you pierce through that initial wall of resistance and build willpower. Your consciousness kicks the subconscious out of the driver's seat, takes control of the wheel, and steers your life in the direction YOU truly wish to pursue. In the long run, your mind becomes more ordered, and your mental energy, resources, and attention are more readily available. As a result, your ability to project your skills and talents into the present moment is enhanced - granting you full control over your destiny. So, regardless of your initial performance, starting NOW always sets the stage for future success. Your mind becomes conditioned to engage in the present moment, and this allows it to acclimate to any situation it encounters. Each concerted action may only improve your skills by 0.001 %, but the accumulation of those improvements will eventually forge a formidable force; all it takes is initial action and engagement with the current situation.
|
When you decide to start NOW, you pierce through that initial wall of resistance and build willpower. Your consciousness kicks the subconscious out of the driver's seat, takes control of the wheel, and steers your life in the direction YOU truly wish to pursue. In the long run, your mind becomes more ordered, and your mental energy, resources, and attention are more readily available. As a result, your ability to project your skills and talents into the present moment is enhanced - granting you full control over your destiny. So, regardless of your initial performance, starting NOW always sets the stage for future success. |
To take action and generate momentum, the mind must first exert massive energy and effort to overcome resistance - just as the train must build up energy before it moves. However, once action is successfully taken, you begin to establish momentum, and subsequent steps are much easier to take - as they face less resistance. Once that momentum builds to a certain level, you eventually become as unstoppable as a speeding train, and no amount of mental resistance could ever slow your progress. |
This process embodies the power of momentum and sits at the heart of any legendary success. However, it certainly requires ample time and consistency to fully establish, and the initial steps are generally the most challenging. This stems from the fact that your first step faces the most resistance; it is at odds with a disordered mind drenched in defiance. Much like a train, a mind with no momentum abides by the laws of nature; it remains at rest and strives to preserve that state. To take action and generate momentum, the mind must first exert massive energy and effort to overcome this nature - just as the train must build up energy before it moves. Like the friction impeding a train's motion, mental resistance will fight at all costs to halt those initial steps. However, once action is successfully taken, you begin to establish momentum, and subsequent steps are much easier to take - as they face less resistance. Once that momentum builds to a certain level, you eventually become as unstoppable as a speeding train. No amount of mental resistance could ever slow your progress, and your engagement ploughs through all obstacles. You are now a formidable force, and your momentum will guide you towards success.
|
So, as Bruce Lee once said, we should all aspire to be more like water. In its purest form, water is essentially harmless; it takes the form of its container and sits idly within it. However, if that same water is focused on a single point, it can literally blast through solid rock - exhibiting an unparalleled power. When it comes to the mind, your attention and available resources should adopt this same behavior; they should be more like water. Underneath the surface, your consciousness should always be calm, structured, and stable. It should be ordered such that extraneous thoughts, worries, and concerns do not divert your attention. In this state, your consciousness is as serene as a still lake; it is present to the moment but essentially harmless. Yet, by focusing its attention and resources, it can also overcome any resistance and project your essence into the task at hand. Such a power, when coupled with consistent effort, ultimately breeds a formidable force; it gradually builds up momentum and plows through anything impeding progress. Once established, this mentality naturally flows into every facet of life, and pure engagement becomes effortless. So, when it comes to executing your plan, refuse to buy into any resistance or excuses. Always choose to start NOW and focus on activities/thoughts which structure your mind - as opposed to fragmenting it. If you can successfully implement this attitude, you will always establish momentum and find a way to make things happen - with no exceptions. You will transform into a formidable force and go to any length in manifesting your dreams.
|
We should all aspire to be more like water. In its purest form, water is essentially harmless; it takes the form of its container and sits idly within it. However, if that same water is focused on a single point, it can literally blast through solid rock - exhibiting an unparalleled power. When it comes to the mind, your attention and available resources should adopt this same behavior; they should be more like water. Underneath the surface, your consciousness should always be calm, structured, and stable. Yet, by focusing its attention and resources, it can also overcome any resistance and project your essence into the task at hand. Such a power, when coupled with consistent effort, ultimately breeds a formidable force; it gradually builds up momentum and plows through anything impeding progress. |
Like our content? Share it with your friends!
Or join the discussions on our community forum!