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You know the feeling.
There's something you want to do. You've thought about it, you've made your decision, and now it's time to act.
Except... you don't.
You want to take the next step, but "something" stops you. Do you know what that "something" is?
It's all down to our ancient ancestors...
Backtrack 100,000 years ago when we all lived in caves and ferocious animals lurked nearby.
Decision making in those days was literally a matter of life and death. If you took a wrong turn, or made yourself too visible, you would attract predators who would eat you for dinner. You and the entire group.
Whatever action you took, you had to be 100% certain before taking it. One mistake meant death.
Fast forward to today.
100,000 years on, and the human brain has evolved into a marvel of sophisticated intelligence. Unfortunately, it still contains the primitive thinking layer used by our ancestors.
And there lies the problem.
Because even today, we still have this overriding need for the elusive quality that enabled our primitive forebears to survive:
Certainty.
And so although the decisions we face nowadays are seldom a matter of life and death, they can often feel that way thanks to our genetic inheritance.
That's why the first step is always the hardest to take.
Anytime you decide to do something new, you are stepping outside "the cave of the familiar" into unknown territory where you are likely to experience some form of fear.
And this sense of discomfort is so strong, you'll do anything to avoid it.
Typical tricks include avoidance, delay, or "over- thinking"...
"Over-thinking" is when you continue to think about making a decision, long after you've actually decided! What you're really doing is creating a safe mental environment for yourself. By constantly thinking about something, it becomes familiar, and so you start to feel comfortable around it.
The problem with "over-thinking" is that it doesn't move you forward one tiny bit, and only results in wasted time and lost opportunities.
Ultimately, a decision is not a decision until it's acted upon. Until that point, it remains a dream.
Here's how to ease yourself out of procrastination and into action using what I call the "triple A" method...
Accept -> Ask -> Act
Step 1 - Accept
Accept uncertainty is a part of life.
Just by doing this, you'll become aware of your feelings surrounding a decision and put them into perspective by relating them to your own primeval craving for certainty.
Realize that even with the best analysis, careful planning, and due diligence, the outcome can never really be known in advance and there comes a time when you've got to take the risk and move forward.
Step 2 - Ask
Ask yourself: "What's the worst that can happen here?"
Look at the worst case scenario, and ask yourself what you'd really lose from it. Most often, it's a lot less than you might have feared.
And what can you do if the worst scenario was to materialize? Could you backtrack? Change direction? Start again? Few things are ever truly final.
Usually you'll find you've got nothing to worry about.
Step 3 - Act
Finally, act. Just do it. Take the next step.
Making a decision and acting on it is enormously liberating.
You get a sudden burst of momentum as you cast off the shackles of procrastination and finally move forward towards your goal.
The old maxim "If in doubt, leave it out" is essential advice when driving or engaging in other hazardous activities.
For most decisions in life, though, you can afford to take a little risk and start living.
The next time you feel stuck, use the 'AAA' technique to help you move forward.
"Accept. Ask. Act."
And freedom from procrastination is yours!
About the author:
Learn how to think faster, read quicker, concentrate deeper, solve any problem and achieve anything you want. Visit: http://www.7StepsToMentalMastery.com
Press Release
Largest Pagan, Occult and New Age Gathering the Chicagoland Area Has Ever Seen Steve Brunkhorst Ancient Ways: A Gathering in Spirituality and Magick being brought to you by Project Mercury.This is a National Convention Taking place in the O'Hare at the DoubleTree O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois on November 26-28, 2004. This convention is going to be part educational, part networking as well as part social event. There will be authors, live music, venders, psychics and a lot more. This weekend event will be one for Chicago to remember.
Riverside, IL July 26, 2004 -- Ancient Ways currently has two authors. Kerr Cuhulain who is the author of "Full Contact Magick", "Pagan Warior" and "The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca" will be doing several lectures including one specifically for the local law enforcement agencies. Our other officer is Jaq D. Hawkings author of "Understanding Chaos", "Chaos Monkey" as well as "the Spirits of the Elements" series. Her unique insight could help others gain a perspective that they might not have though of before. Besides our authors a wide variety of topics will be getting covered from the Brujaria, Mexican Witchcraft, on through Voodoo and almost everything in between.
In addition to our wonderful lectures, we will be having be hosting 2 bands for the entertainment of the crowds. Kicking us off on opening night, Friday, will be local gothic metal band Urn and on Saturday night we will slow it down a notch with Ragani of the Kirtan with her sacred music.
There will be a large Vendors room being ran by nationally recognized Crafty Crafters Expo Inc, http://craftycrafterexpo.com. They are a corporation that had gotten its start in the Chicago land area a couple of years ago running New Age, Goth and Fantasy Expos.
There will also be a psychic's room being ran by The American Board for Tarot Certification. We will be having a wide variety of reader using several different forms of divination to give you insight, direction amd a glance into the future or the past.
Ancient Ways will help people gain insight, wisdom and knowledge into ways that might otherwise be have been foreign to them giving everyone a weekend off that is filled with education, entertainment and networking. With all that we will be having, this is not an event to miss.
About Project Mercury
Project Mercury had gotten its start in 1998. It is an organization dedicated to fostering communication and interconnection between Pagan and Pagan friendly individuals and groups. Our mission is to promote religious freedom and to facilitate a positive image in the community.
Project Mercury
Michael Seeber
3856 Gladstone Avenue
Riverside, IL 60546
Phone: 708.447.6351
http://ancientways.us
projectmercury@comcast.net
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