People are cyborgs. The new secret of success
Scraps from my book.
Setting Life Standards
Wealthy people say, "You choose the life you have.” Why do you think poor people continue to live in poverty and don’t improve their financial situations? They have lived this life for such a long time, that they’ve accepted it as normal. They have gotten used to saving, working hard, and borrowing money. This state of mind has held them hostage. They have started seeing their circumstances as normal. The constant need to save does not frighten them anymore. They have had to do it so frequently in the past, that it has altered the neural connections in their brain. I will talk about this side of our personalities later. All these actions and situations have become part of their daily routine. Why, despite dreaming about starting your own business, do you go on working for the same old employer? You can have a good income, wear an expensive suit, and be satisfied with your career, but that leaves you comfortable and doesn’t give you a reason to quit or create the conditions necessary to start changing anything in your life.
Victor Frank wrote a good book entitled Say YES to Life, in which he speaks about the hardships he endured while imprisoned in a concentration camp. If you are looking for a purpose in life, you should read his story.
When your mind gets used to something, it loses an incentive to develop, which is essential for success. It is crucial to train your mind to see the ‘normal way’ as a crisis. Your mind can only develop in a critical situation. For example, when you move to a different city, you don’t usually lie on your couch. You start looking for opportunities to earn money and survive. In this situation, you have both motivation and purpose.
So without actually moving to a different town, how can you simulate critical situations to keep your mind active? Here is an exercise that will help you. Take a sheet of paper and pen (I know you probably didn’t do it the first time I asked, but understand that these exercises won’t work if you only do them in your mind or on your phone). So, this time, really grab a sheet of paper. Draw a line in the middle of the sheet, dividing it into two parts. Write the following in the left column: your job, when you get up in the morning, how often you go on vacation, your salary, how often you travel, and your car brand. In the right column, instead of what you have now, write what you wish each of those things were. For example, you get up at 9 o’clock in the morning, but you wish you could get up at 10 or 11. You go on holiday twice a year, but you wish you vacationed more often. This way, you will demonstrate to your mind that your life is not perfect and that the situation is, in fact, critical. You will convince your mind that, although you have gotten used to your routine, you need to set the bar much higher for yourself.
Improving Your Quality of Life
Everyone has their own vision of what their life should be. One person might find it sufficient to earn enough money to “keep the pot boiling.” Another individual might find fulfillment in making $30,000 a month and owning a summer home. The third person might settle for a city center apartment and a private jet. Some people are used to traveling all year and own large properties in every country. You have an idea of what is normal for you. You are used to your standard of living. At the same time, you want more. Perhaps you wish to start your own company and make twice as much as you make now. However, to reach your goals, you should fight your mind and raise your expectations to a completely different level.
Remember, your mind fears change and does not want you to aim higher. You can win this battle only if you trick it. What does that mean? It means you should start purchasing things that you normally can’t afford. You should get new, expensive clothes, travel more often, get a massage, and go to the most expensive restaurant in your town, even if it’s only for a glass of water. Do this from time to time, and then make it regular. If it is financially too difficult for you, then do it once or twice a month. Act as if you already have a better life. These new actions will convince your mind that the space outside your comfort zone is not only safe but also even better than where you are now! Your mind will get a taste of these new circumstances and won’t miss your old routine.
It is necessary to improve your quality of life. You will like it. You will wait for the moment when you can go to that restaurant or try on a new suit. Instead of being scared, your mind will ask to do it again. This is what we aim for!