Episode Transcript
Welcome to Podcast 15 in the Are You Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired series Titled "Hell No," not again.
Have you ever been ready to say no more of this crap?
You are prepared to pack it in and do something completely different.
Only to turn around and be in the same situation you promised never to do again.
Well, you are in the right place because today, we learn how to say "hell" no to not again.
It doesn't matter if it's a job relationship or a speeding ticket; getting caught up in the same old crap is a pain we could all do without but seem content in not doing anything about.
I remember talking badly to myself about not exercising in the morning. I was tired of the excuse of not having enough time in the morning. I shamefully admit it was because I got up with little time to prepare for work and exercise.
And once I was honest with myself, one extra episode on Netflix that turned into three probably had a lot to do with hitting the snooze alarm four times. Here are some of the things that helped me:
Before I went to bed, I carefully thought about the intent for the next day.
Then, I wrote down my intentions. Next to the purposes, I noted all the problems that would or could be associated with me not doing what my choices were.
There is something about seeing words on paper for mental clarity. So I decided to start there because the answers were in my face. It was hard as heck, to begin with.
I realized that Netflix was more of an addiction than it was entertainment. So, I am paying for a service that will eventually make me sick or worse.
First, I tried cold turkey. That worked for about two days. I thought to myself, one episode won't hurt. Well, you know that one turned into three.
I quickly realized I would fail in doing it that way. I began to affect my whole day because I was becoming annoyed at my inability not to watch Netflix.
I began to look at other aspects of my life and find fault there. I remember thinking I better not try drugs; I would be permanently screwed.
So here I was in the never-ending circle of not doing what I felt I needed to do. And then not doing what I needed to do and feeling even worse.
So, one day, on the way home from work, I got stuck in a prolonged traffic flow. It was one of those days when I just wanted to get home and relax. I am sure you know what I mean.
I was slightly familiar with the area and remembered there was a non-highway street a couple of miles north of where I was, and it ran adjacent to the main highway I was stuck on.
It took a while, but I finally reached the next exit. As I exited, I could see brake lights for miles. I smiled as I realized I was at least out of the traffic. Even though there were traffic lights, I was still not stuck for any period.
Please excuse me; I am an author and enjoy telling the story.
So, as I was saying, I found the road, and low and behold. It was smooth sailing. I even caught a few red lights in a row that were green.
I was relieved as I found another street that went back south, close to my home. I was doubly pleased when I saw I was home about ten minutes earlier than usual. And that included being stuck in traffic.
I warmed up the food from the night before and then had my "aha" moment as I recounted my expedited journey home.
I am doing this all wrong, I exclaimed to myself.
Why don't I exercise at night? Then, I can watch Netflix as a reward for exercising.
Exercising after work erased the tension of the day. I enjoyed my food more. And my digestion was rapid and effective.
Within a couple of days, I was ready for bed after two episodes on Netflix. And soon after that, one episode became more of the norm.
Within a couple of weeks, I could feel the difference in everything from strength, energy, reduced stress, and overall attitude.
Heck, I even missed some Netflix nights altogether. Not beating myself up was good for my self-esteem and overall mental health. And if it wasn't, it sure felt like it.
On my way to work one day, I smiled and thought all this came from being stuck in traffic. And accidentally stumbling on a self-evident principle I had been oblivious to for a long time.
"Try something new." I remembered the old saying, " there is more than one way to skin a cat." I can't imagine what the person was like that came up with that saying, but the point was indeed legitimate.
From that day on, whenever I am confronted with undesirable situations, I make it a point to chill and explore other options. This option has become an invaluable tool, and I have passed it on to clients, friends, and family for years.
I have noticed many of us paint ourselves into a corner by starting from an assumed perspective of "I am going to have to do it this way."
One of my sayings is, "You can put a square peg in a round hole with a big enough hammer. But it so much easier to put a square peg in a square hole."
I think we all have a "hell no, I'm not doing that again" somewhere in our lives. Some of us beat it, and some of us are defeated by it.
But the answer to victory may be closer than you think by attacking it from a different angle.
Well, my friends, I hope you find the information as helpful as I did. And hopefully, you can use it to eliminate some or all of your: hell no, not again." Hopefully, we can chat later.
And as always:
Please remember to Love Yourself. You are Not Alone. You are relevant and worthy.
How About that?
