What Makes You Uncomfortable

To change a result, we need to behave differently.

To create a radically better result, we usually have to do something new, which most people find uncomfortable.

Everything in our biology is programmed to be extremely cautious when doing anything new, especially when we think it is risky.

This is why most people have big dreams, but do nothing to make them happen.

You have to overcome a lot of biology, even to get started.

But even then, we have to make it into a new habit, which is a hard thing to do.

Especially as the big result we want does not arrive the second after we get started.

Typically, it's the complete opposite, we either get nothing, or things get worse for a while.

So, our brain screams at us to go back to the old ways because, even if we don’t like the result, it satisfies our brain's huge need for certainty and the illusion of control.

To get through this painful stage, a really good thing to do is measure your activity and your results.

Set up a very simple tracking process that records two things

Are you doing what you say you want to do when you said you are going to do it?

Is it working or not?

This will give you two really useful pieces of data which can be used to improve your results quickly.

Number 1 gives you a very clear yes or no answer to if you are doing the new behaviour or not.

If you have recorded your behaviour every day, then great, your mindset is good.

But, if there are holes in your records, you know you are avoiding it.

(The same is true if you feel uncomfortable about recording your activities in the first place).

Recording yourself tests your willingness to do something uncomfortable.

Then, number 2 lets you see how effective your new behaviour is.

Number 1 tests your mindset.

Number 2 tests effectiveness.

Fix number one if you are not doing what you know you want to do.

Fear of failure, looking stupid, not thinking they are ‘good enough’, worried about being criticised are the biggest reason why people underperform, not their lack of skills.

When you are willing to measure yourself, you can fix the right thing.

Mindset first.

Then skills and results.

Successful people are willing to honestly look at themselves and see where they are getting in their own way.

They then fix this.

The unsuccessful, avoid doing this because while they want to feel good from being successful, but they want to avoid feeling bad even more.

So they are busy but doing the wrong things, which makes them doubt themselves even more.

What is driving you?

A desire for results or trying not to wound your ego?

Stehen Bates