“To be always doubting your ability to get what you long for is like trying to reach east by traveling west.”

Good morning! I am convinced that one of the most common places we practice reverse psychology is on ourselves! In the past week, I was taking notes and here are some examples:

• The smoker who wants to quit and details her quitting 

plan over a cigarette.

• The woman who says she wants true love in her life, 

but stays in a relationship that is unfulfi lling.

• The professional who wants to reach the top, but then 

watches the clock and never works a minute over forty 

hours per week.

• The parent who wants better communication with their 

children but doesn’t have time to talk.

• The artist who feels a need to express herself but 

never carves out time for creativity.

I am sure you can add some to this list!

How silly we are to live these contradictions in our life and then wonder, “what is bothering me,” or “why do I feel unfulfilled?”I am not saying that I have never done this in my own life I have! I know exactly what the problem is I am not taking action steps that align with my desires. And I know there is only one way to fix it. Either scrap the desire (which is impossible with a true, core desire) or fix the action steps.

If we don’t, we end up like today’s quote always traveling east while trying to get west or vice versa. Of course, I suppose if you travel east long enough, you’ll eventually end up in the west but what a bumpy, long, and indirect trip and what a waste of time!

Turn the spotlight on your own life. What true desire do you have where your actions directly contradict the desire? Who do you blame for it? What do you chalk it up to? How long has this been happening in your life? Can you see the freedom that comes from owning the responsibility and righting your action? Decide whether you have outgrown the desire or if your action steps are wrong. Then adjust accordingly.

I own all of my problems. I own all of my solutions.