Jun 25, 2008
Extra motivation (maybe) to do what you’ve always wanted to but also always failed at.
Need help accomplishing some unlikely goal?
Like growing your hair out…
…or writing a novel?
Tell everyone that you’re gonna do it.
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Theme based on Derek Punsalan's Grid Focus.
OK then – what are you going to do?
ED.
Good idea. I always thought if I told everyone and then didn’t do it, that it would show poor character. But I guess making ourselves accountable actually helps us develop good character. So does doing what we say we’re going to do. And if what we want to do is actually a character building thing, then that helps, as well.
Okay, everyone here at 22 words. I am going to clean up one junky spot in my house every day this summer (and keep it from getting junky again). I said I would do it five years ago, and it’s all still junky. Not anymore. Here I go…
When you’re done there, Chris, you’re welcome here…
[...] A prominent Protestant blogger, in a sideways fashion, finds a reason for personal (spoken!) confession. [...]
[...] A prominent Protestant blogger, in a sideways fashion, finds a reason for personal (spoken!) confession. [...]
good call. i had wanted to write a book, and i finally started after enough people told me, “get on it already!”
And yet, there are so many people for whom this doesn’t work. They talk and talk and never do.
I say the opposite. Don’t tell people what your going to do. Just do it and show them the results.
My extra motivation is the hope of a surprised smile when they see it.
Yes, Jamsco. Thus the “(maybe).”
Sometimes I’m motivated by the potential shame of not living up to my word.
Other times, as you point out, I’m motivated by the excitement of surprising someone.
For some reason, this is the motivation I need for housework. When Molly asks me to do something, it’s drudgery (to my shame). But if I can do the same task without her knowing, then she comes home and is surprised by my efforts–then it was worth it!
I completely related to this post…I needed the extra motivation in July 2006 to submit my finances to the Lord and get out of debt. My extra motivation…no haircut until I could proclaim debt freedom. With the Lord’s provision and perfect timing, just last Tuesday I got to cut my hair after nearly 2 years! I can attest the extra motivation does work. Had I given in a cut my hair ages ago, my word would have been broken and the finances still under my control. Anyway…thanks for the post!
I used this line of reasoning to get myself in shape by creating a new blog dedicated to getting me from fat to fit. Check it out at:
http://www.seetoddrun.wordpress.com
[...] Read his post here. [...]
I going to stop commenting on your blog.
nope. didn’t work. but, maybe if i was something i actually wanted to accomplish. how’s the novel coming along????
dang. “I going to stop…??” now, “I going” to make fun of myself.
that’s why NaNoWriMo.org is a great idea – everybody’s basically promising each other that this (November) will be the month they finish their novel! (of course, en masse, it can lose some of the effectiveness, but still.)
[...] how God’s creation praises Him by simply doing what it was created to do paired with some extra motivation, and just the fact that if I don’t, I never will …. I am letting the cat completely [...]
Hey, I cleaned up 3 junky areas of my house yesterday, AND my junky cabinet at church. I think this is going to work kind of like weight watchers. The first week you achieve double what you are going to achieve the rest of the time. The key is just to keep going.
I promise I won’t post an update every day.
P.S. to Ed: We all might be over to clean up your place sooner than you think. You buyin’ pizza for us?
Sure. It’s the least I can do. If you’re coming from the US I’ll even pick you up at the airport!
Yeah, it would be great if we could have a 22 Words reunion to celebrate all the friendships and encouragement we get here.
Hooray! I did it it! I did it! I cleaned up every junky spot in the house–just about.–not including the basement, which the whole family is working on. There will always be a few things here or there that need to be put away, but at least I feel like I have the major messes dealt with–things that should have been put away, sorted, or dealt with five years ago.
Last year my friend challenged me to throw away 50 things. I said, “Lesly, I don’t want to become obsessed with having a perfect house.” She answered, “Chris, that is never going to happen to you.” Still…
I know some people would walk in the house now and think, “This place needs a lot of work,” and others would think it looks great. So I know I’m somewhere in between, I guess. But I don’t think my husband is going to call our homeschool, “Pile High” anymore.
Thanks, 22 Words, for encouraging me to get this job done:) I know this post is old and probably isn’t even looked at anymore, but it still feels good to document an accomplishment I have been trying to achieve for a long time.