Today’s big idea is that sometimes it takes thinking about how your actions have a ripple effect on other people to really get yourself into gear. And usually, when we are avoiding doing something, we’re just thinking about ourselves—why we don’t want to do it, how busy we are, or tired we are, or beating ourselves up for being unmotivated or procrastinating. We’re not thinking about other people. And I say we should be. We don’t think about how our efforts will ripple out to the people around us, and that’s a shame, because doing so helps quiet that voice that says, “Why does this even matter?” That voice is a HUGE motivation killer.
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Here’s a really boring example
Let’s say you want to get going on pulling stuff together for your taxes. But you just really don’t want to do it. It’s so tedious. Well, you can think how doing that totally tedious and boring job is going to help the person who helps you with or does your taxes for you by giving them what they need to do their job and lowering their stress. You can think about how doing your taxes and getting your refund–if you get one—will enable you to take your family on a trip and how much having something to look forward to will help your kids get through the rest of the school year, for instance.
Or think about how you’ll donate some of that refund to an organization that then will be able to help more people. Or how you’ll be in a better mood and more fun to be around for your partner, friends, and/or family because it won’t be hanging over your head any more.
Thinking about your ripple effect helps shift you into being of service, which is a way higher energy level than feeling like someone who doesn’t have their crap together.
A super quick exercise to help you calculate your ripple effect:
So to think about your ripple effect of your efforts, grab a piece of paper and a pen or open a Note on your phone. Quickly jot down the people who will be affected by whatever it is you’re resisting doing. They could benefit directly, or indirectly.
If you want to meditate, think about how the people you live with and work with will hear you say fewer snarky things because you’re calmer. And how that might help them feel better because they don’t have to spend as much time upset. And how they might even be inspired to meditate or do something else to take care of themselves because they’re witnessing how much it’s helping you.
It’s a truth that we all have a ton of influence on other people. None of us is an island. Sometimes thinking about the collective can get your individual butt in gear, haha.
A Quick Favor
This is the 363rd episode of this podcast, which is a totally random number but also a pretty darn big number. I mean, it has three figures in it. Would you do me a huge favor and rate and/or review this podcast after the episode is over? I’d like my number of ratings to also have three figures in them. I really appreciate your help.
