This is my 40th article. My aim is to create work that I am proud of that helps other people. I am quite proud of this newsletter. I am grateful that many of you are benefiting from it. It’s humbling.
A quick reminder that the next LIVE WEBINAR is this Sunday October 22nd at 8am on “A way to overcome negative thinking”. Register using this link.
A navy seal and a scientist walk into a lab. They proceed to do epic things.
David Goggins is a retired Navy Seal, competes in ultra-distance races and is a former Guinness World Record holder for completing 4030 pull-ups in seventeen hours. The most pull-ups I have done is about 17, in one day. Andrew Huberman is an accomplished professor who has made significant contributions to the field of neuroscience. He is also the host of the wildly popular podcast, Huberman lab.
Huberman studies fear and courage. In one of his experiments, he uses virtual reality to create a realistic experience that simulates swimming with great white sharks. I think that is supposed to be scary or something. Goggins was one of the participants. He openly volunteered, “I don’t like sharks”. When Huberman asked the group, “Who would like to go first?”, guess who put their hand up first?
We all struggle with self limiting beliefs and negative internal dialogue.
- “I’m scared.”
- “I’ll never be good enough.”
- “I always mess things up.”
- “I’m such a failure.”
- “No one really likes me.”
- “I’m so stupid.”
- “I’ll never achieve my goals.”
- “I don’t deserve to be happy.”
- “I’m a burden to everyone.”
- “I can’t do anything right.”
It is important to address these thoughts. The quality of our thoughts dictate the quality of our actions. Our actions define the results we achieve in life.
We often try to deal with thoughts like this by trying to change them. Repeating positive affirmations is a common approach.
- “I am constantly improving and growing.”
- “I learn from my mistakes and become wiser each day.”
- “I am resilient and capable of overcoming challenges.”
- “People appreciate and value my presence in their lives.”
- “I am intelligent and capable of learning new things.”
- “I am making progress toward my goals every day.”
- “I deserve happiness, and I create it in my life.”
- “I am strong, and I can overcome any obstacle.”
- “I bring joy and positivity to those around me.”
- “I am capable, competent, and I can succeed in all that I do.”
This works, sometimes.
Did you notice Goggins does something different?
Goggins doesn’t try to shift his thoughts with better thoughts. He uses behaviour to shift his thoughts. He approaches this puzzle in reverse order. It makes sense. Assuming physical capacity, you can control what you DO. Why not live there?
I take my patients and clients through a similar process called ‘Pressure Testing’. Anyone who has experienced this with me will likely be smiling as they read this. We create artificial and safe environments that predictably reproduce uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. Then we lean into them, on purpose, through our actions. We do this repeatedly. It’s the equivalent of putting your hand up to go swim with virtual sharks when you are someone who hates sharks.
What is something that you are going to ‘put your hand up’ for this week? REPLY to this email and let me know.
P.S.
If you want help with implementing Pressure Testing in your life, reply to this email with ‘COACH’.
P.S again.
I am currently writing my first book, Do Happy, and I am looking to pressure test (pun intended) the principles in my book. I am looking to do 50 speeches in 50 weeks! So far I am on track. If you know of an event or organisation where you think people would be interested in hearing my message, reply to this email with ‘SPEAKING’.
P.S I talk about the nuances of what I cover in my newsletter through my LIVE webinar series every Sunday at 8am. The next LIVE WEBINAR is this Sunday October 22nd at 8am on “A way to overcome negative thinking”. Register using this link.
Much love to you and of course, myself.
Dr G (Soon to be author!)
