Self-Help Stuff That Works Home About me Explore this site Immediate relief of negative feelings Making changes stick Share your favorite principle About the book: Self-Help Stuff That Works back to relationships community send this page to a friend advertisement

advertisement Chapter 70 of the book Self-Help Stuff That Works by Adam Khan: Forbidden Fruits HAVE YOU EVER HAD the experience, during a power outage or on a vacation, of finally having the time to really enjoy a conversation or read a good book and find yourself thinking, “Why don’t I do that more often?” Why? Because the easy entertainments and products of our modern world are always enticing, and, of course, there are always chores that need to be done. Some famous authors have written their books while in jail. I’ve often thought what a great opportunity they had. They lived in circumstances highly conducive to writing (because there wasn’t much else to do). And here I am, stuck in civilization with all its temptations. Poor little me. But there is a way to create some of the same kinds of experiences without power outages or jail time. Human beings have been successfully using a simple and very effective method for thousands of years. It is simply to forbid things. Today, for example, I have forbidden TV for myself. And I’ve already written more today than I have in the last week. It works. And there’s nothing forced about it. I don’t feel I have to write. I want to. Once I take away the nonstop seduction of the television, the most interesting and fun thing available is writing. Forbidding a distraction simply opens up the time I have available to do the things I really want. Try it. Take the thing you do that wastes the most time or creates the lowest-quality experience and forbid it for a day. You don’t have to make it permanent. Simply forbid it for tomorrow or for the rest of today. I think you’ll like the result. Forbid something for the day. A good principle of human relations is don't brag, but if you internalize this too thoroughly, it can make you feel that your efforts are futile. Taking Credit Aggressiveness is the cause of a lot of trouble in the world, but it is also the source of much good. Make It Happen We all fall victim to our circumstances and our biology and our upbringing now and then. But it doesn't have to be that way as often. You Create Yourself Comfort and luxury are not the chief requirements of life. Here's what you need to really feel great. A Lasting State of Feeling Great Comptetion doesn't have to be an ugly affair. In fact, from at least one perspective, it is the finest force for good in the world. The Spirit of the Games Achieving goals is sometimes difficult. When you feel discouraged, check this chapter out. There are three things you can do to make the achievement of your goals more likely. Do You Want to Give Up? top advertisement   table of contents | immediate relief of negative feelings | making changes stick share your favorite principle | my book

advertisement

Home to HealthyPlace.com Chat/Forums Communities Counseling Services HealthyPlace Radio News Site Events Web Tour Advertise Email Us Bookstore Greeting Cards Natural Health Store Pharmacy Search Healthyplace.com © 1999 Healthyplace Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Disclaimer