I just read an interesting snippet on Lifehacker that talks about the power of positive suggestion. Our brain tells us that we’re tired well before our bodies really are so we don’t necessarily get the best workout possible. We quit too soon. The article suggests you can counteract that by telling yourself that you’re feeling good and doing well the entire time you’re exercising.

I wonder if this wouldn’t hold true for other parts of our life as well. Face it, exercise isn’t meant to be comfortable and our brain is wired to avoid discomfort. There are a lot of uncomfortable things in life that we have to do so a technique for getting past them quickly would be useful. For some people that I coach, avoidance turns into a roadblock. They can’t move forward because they simply don’t want to deal with some unpleasant event. Instead of just saying “I know I can do this” I offer a slightly different way to rewire the brain.

When the pull of a positive outcome is greater than the desire to avoid something unpleasant then you’ll get over that speed bump. When you find yourself avoiding something, think about your goal or need for addressing it. When working out, for example, create a picture of looking good and feeling confident on the beach during that vacation you have coming up. The more vivid and detailed the picture, the stronger pull it will have on your actions.

This same technique is effective in your work life too. A lot of people pass on new opportunities because of uncertainty; can they, should they, what if. Get past that by thinking about what it would be like once you DID. Imagine having given that great presentation or landing that important deal or signing that lease on your first store. Create a strong, positive mental picture and you’ll be surprised by how much of what you really want comes true.

Photo credit: danorbit. / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND