Don't do it because you have to

It's a chore, it's a drag, it's the worst thing ever. All of it. Whatever it may be for you. Cleaning, organizing, exercising, budgeting, eating healthy food, keeping track, doing the thing, doing the other thing, the endlessness of it all. It's so overwhelming, it can paralyze us, it can be so much easier to just not. do. anything. And when you feel that way, if you're like me, there's no motivational quote that will pull you out of it, no drive, no will, no desire to just do it even if somewhere in you, you do desire to do it.

That's me, that's every day. And forcing myself can work sometimes. Sometimes. Do the laundry, do the dishes, cook a meal. But it's a half-assed attempt, with slow and heavy steps. It ends earlier than it should, with a poorer outcome than it could, and because of that, it brings no satisfaction. It's not done, it'll never be done, and I'll have to not do it again tomorrow. And the day after. And the day after that.

But here's what does work. It's a different kind of effort, but maybe a little easier to do when sitting on the sofa, feet up, scrolling reddit. A lot easier, actually. Pause for a moment and take in what it would feel like if you just did actually do the thing, and did it amazingly. Whatever it is, whatever it may be for you. You just cleaned your entire house, scrubbed the bathtub, the floors. You re-organized your bookshelf so you can find any book by it's title. You painted your walls and created a soothing atmosphere with candles and music and soft lighting. You did an intense 45 minute workout and feel it in your muscles, you feel yourself getting stronger. You just typed the last sentence in your novel. Don't wish for it, feel guilty about not doing it, or hate yourself for never doing it.

Do the opposite, and be in it fully.

Close your eyes and enjoy the shiny floors and feel proud of them. Browse your colour co-ordinated closet. Feel the burn and rush of energy from that workout. Turn the last page of the book you've been meaning to read. Get an amazing grade on the essay that's due on Friday. The small things, the big things, any of the things. Feel and smell your freshly washed hair if you've been laying in bed, depressed and unshowered, if that's where you're at right now. Imagine crossing the finish line of the marathon that's on your bucket list, if that's where you're at right now.

Pat yourself on the back for them, be thrilled with yourself, feel every intense feeling you know you would feel at what you just accomplished, let yourself live in that world for just a second. What's the worst that could happen to let yourself have this moment?

Miraculously, something will happen from giving this to yourself. A little piece of your mind wakes up, a signal is sent, a movement created out of newfound energy. It's not a linear system, it might not make sense right away, maybe the daydream marathon becomes skipping take-out and cooking tonight. Maybe writing a book becomes reading a book. But your mind will lead you there for a reason, a truly amazing thing will happen, and if you do it again, see it again, feel it again, another one will happen. Sure, this sounds like vision boards and The Secret and all of that, but it is and it isn't. It's a lot simpler, it's a lot easier.

Your mind leads the way, so lead your mind the way you want it to lead you, and it will. I swear, it will.