Fwd: pulling punches

Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:03:21 -0400
Subject: pulling punches

Stop pulling your punches
Eric -

There is a term from the world of boxing called "pulling punches."

If you don't know that term, it's when you don't hit your opponent as hard as you can.

When I use that term, with regard to your personal or business-life, I mean that you are not hitting your worst PROBLEM as hard as you can.

That might sound unbelievable. After all, your worst problem is the one keeping you awake at night. The one on your mind ALL the time.

The one that sits there in your head -- center stage -- when you wake up in the morning.

Yes, THAT problem.

Notice something: Having it ON your mind is not the same as systematic action to SOLVE the problem.

Having it on your mind, but not taking action, is just another way of "pulling punches."

One of the sneakiest ways your brain keeps you from hitting your problem as hard as you can is...

By telling you to "think positive."
You know the advice:
Bathe everything in pink light.
Be happy.
Focus on only the good.
Think only of what you want.
There's another popular variation making the rounds: Feel grateful.

"Uh-oh, I better not think about the problem. I better think about the solution. Just keep my attention on that. Or on my gratitude."

"That's what it says here in this book that everybody's reading this week."

Yes, you have to focus on what you want. It's crucial to feel grateful.
But there's a step that's missing...
Here's what I recommend instead...

Be heroic, head straight into the darkness of your mind and face the monster.

THEN think about the solution. Be grateful THEN.

After all, the monster has all your goodies held hostage, trapped inside a cave, deep in your mind. You need those treasures freed, NOW.

No, I'm not kidding.

Ever wonder why those stories of monster-dragons and knights (and caves) speak to us as children? Because it's primal. It matches something about how our psyches work.

The knight doesn't save the princess (and the king's fortune) by dancing in a field looking at rainbows. He's got to face the beast.

And the knight better hurry. It's dark and scary there in the cave.