What's THINKING got to do with it?

Have you ever stopped to wonder how important "thinking" is to performance?

I received this note a while back:
 

I really appreciated this comment on the blog last week...made me think that there's more to this "thinking thing" than I thought!

... You are advising that I make the INTENTION at the start of the day, when naturally I feel much more positive, and ACT on it EARLY by preparing for ...

There's more to the quote, and I did take it a bit out of context, but I hope I can demonstrate something here.

When you start by intending what you what to complete or engage in that day, the energy you need makes itself available.

Let me explain why I wrote that sentence in the passive voice:

I trust that after being "around" for almost 35 years (I celebrate my birthday today!) that the information, resources and help I need is most noticeably present when I ask for it. Sometimes I just start focusing intently on solving a problem, other times I actually let my network know what I am working on, and what support I think I am looking for.

When I am clear - specific about where I am, and where I am going - the help I need shows up. I've shown this in seminars, demonstrating the power of focus with things like "finding money" or "generating new project ideas" or "thinking of ways to be more myself."

The thing is, it sounds "weird." I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say, "Jason, you can't just start to THINK about something and get it." I understand their words, but the experience doesn't match mine.

Where action and intention meet, magic happens. Give it a try...tomorrow morning, get out a small piece of paper, and write down the one "high value add" activity you could engage in that day. Write it down as if it's done, and write it down in a way you could imagine it looking. Then, put it atop your computer monitor; tape it to your cell phone; look at it each time you start your car (if you're driving around that day). Do this, and let me know what happened!

Comments

[Jeroen]

Happy Birthday!
I too found great value in writing down my "high value add" activity and place it right in front of my nose. It truly works, as if the universe helps me reaching my goal.

[Michael Sampson]

Happy Birthday Jason! Welcome to the ranks of us 35'ers.
M.

[scientaestubique]

Happy Birthday Jason! Thanks for coming on G'Day World, you've been missed on the Productivity Show.

I agree with you on the thinking time/space. Too often we run on Beta Waves in our brains these days, high speed drive with razor sharp focus. Some time to think changes gears back to Alpha Waves, letting creativity and the ability to quickly change gears shine though. Mind maps are ideal if you have any Alpha Wave time available.