Do You Work for 72 Degrees?

I remember hearing this story years ago and was reminded of it tonight.

When we set a thermostat, according to many HVAC professionals, it's usually set around 72 degrees. They call this the 'dead zone'. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right in the middle.

When the system picks up that it has dropped below that temperature or goes above it, the heater or a/c kicks on and works just hard enough until the set temperature is brought back to that degree. Then the system kicks back off until it needs to adjust once again.

I was told that this is how most people go through life. We find a middle ground, no matter where it is in our life, be it relationships, work, our business, fitness levels, whatever it may be and we apply the same principle to it.

We find the 'dead zone' that requires as little work from us as possible in order to keep the system running to how we like it, and how we prefer it. Now, this doesn't mean this is a zone that serves us or others in the best possible way or it's ideal for us, it just means that it is in a place we are willing to tolerate what is going on around us.

Every now and then, however, the temperature rises or falls, and we need to act in order to bring everything back into what we think is order.

For example, relationships require a lot of work, but for many as long as we can keep it at a certain level that we find acceptable, we don't want to commit any more and energy to it than that.

At some point it's quite possible that the significant partner in the relationship starts to get a bit upset over how things are.

"You don't do this for me. We never do this. I wish we could..." and so on.

It is here we become much like the thermostat. We recognize something is not right, and we work JUST hard enough to bring that environment back into our comfort zone.

So if we, for example, have a partner that is letting us know they are not too thrilled with us at the current moment, what we wend up doing is ONLY what is necessary to get them back into OUR zone of comfort. Again, it's not about them or their level of comfort, but our own.

And we do this in so many aspects of our lives. People need to lose weight, so they get on one of those quick weight loss shake programs just long enough to drop those pounds and then go right back to eating poor food, not working out and so on, only to find themselves right back where they started.

The thermostat effect.

In order to create real change, we need to find the habit that created the reality, whatever it may be, and change that for good. Literally FOR GOOD.

So, where are you on this? Can you look at circumstances in your life where you changed or exerted extra effort just long enough to get, say, that boss or partner off your back? To get those inches off your waist? Then went right back to the old habits?

Be honest. It's when you recognize this behavior that you can start to change it.

Stop TRYING

We've all heard and probably quoted Yoda. In case you have never read his famous quote, here it is:

"Do or do not. There is no try."

Where DID the word 'try' come from and how did it manage to take such a strong hold in our vocabulary? Now that I know the power it holds over people, I cringe every time I hear it and I hear it OFTEN.

To me, the word steals personal power from the person who uses it on a regular basis.  I tell my kids, 'watch your words, they hold powerful magic.'

The word 'try' is one of the most powerful words in the English and not in a good way. I'm sure you've hear, 'Trying is lyin'.'

It is one of the most dis-empowering words we can use. It gives us an 'out' from being our best. It allows us to not be held accountable for our actions.

Who are you going to have more confidence in:

"I'll try."

"I'll do my best."

Clearly, the wording, "I'll do my best." holds more power and confidence. It tells people and ourselves that our best effort is to be expected and will be given.


For me, 'trying' is a cop out. It allows for excuses and we all know what excuses are about, right?

So here's my challenge for you. REALLY pay attention to yourself and others and consciously listen for the word, 'try'. Listen to the context in which it is given and look for any results.

If you catch yourself saying it, correct yourself immediately! Learn to take the word, 'try' out of your vocabulary completely. It's a word that relays non-commitment to the outcome.

Since you are living an authentic life ( you ARE living an authentic life, right?) you'll be quick to notice and correct yourself.

Then come back and tell me your thoughts.

Back to Beliefs

We've touched on how to find those hidden beliefs which tend to guide our lives, making choices for us when we think the conscious mind is the one in control.

But now that we have discovered them and have realize they no longer serve us, how do we go about changing them?

For years, we've allowed our 'stories' to support our beliefs. We've gone in circles. So with a belief like, 'rich people are greedy.', our brains have actually looked for proof to support that belief. We can then tell ourselves, 'See? Did you see how they behaved? Rich people ARE greedy.'

This supports the stories we've told ourselves.

Now that we're becoming aware of our gut feelings when we approach certain subjects (money, relationships, self-perception, etc), we can listen to the stories we have behind them, how we support our story, and then actually change our stories.

Instead of thinking, 'rich people are greedy', we can start saying, 'wealthy people are just like everyone else'. Then we can consciously start looking for examples to support our new 'story' or belief. Eventually, the belief is cemented, just like our old one, and we only find examples to support our belief.

With this example, our belief around money becomes a positive one, as opposed to a negative one. We stop subconsciously sabotaging our efforts to be prosperous because we now believe that we can be wealthy and good, giving people.

So how are you doing with this?

It now becomes a part of our subconscious.

Our Core Beliefs

As mentioned, I've been reading on this subject on Randy Gage's blog , and I've been posting some questions on facebook and twitter that some people are not happy about. Why? Because it's not the usual banter of 'here's a happy quote for you, all is better now.'

My posts have been more about challenging people to look at their core beliefs, if they can uncover them, and see if those beliefs are looking like they are beneficial in their lives or not. Normally, if you are getting your feathers ruffled there is a core belief in there somewhere that is being threatened.

I'm trying to get people to THINK. Which is another series of posts in and of itself.

I've written before a statistic that states we have 50% of our beliefs in place by the age of three. THREE years old and already 50% of our CORE beliefs are settled in nice and snuggly and we are acting and making unconscious choices based on those beliefs.

These are beliefs handed down to us from our parents, teachers, preachers, and other influential people in our lives at the time.

Beliefs such as, what a relationship is supposed to look like, based on our parent's relationship, how we look at and tolerate other people based on what the religion dictates, and even the personal beliefs of teachers.

These beliefs become such a part of our subconscious that even when we 'think' we are making choices in our lives, we are making these choices based around those core beliefs.  Whether these beliefs serve our best interests or not.

Perhaps your saying, 'you're telling me that I'm not really making conscious choices about my life?' Well, yes....

More later.

Based on the last post, did you find any of your core beliefs?

Pushing the Belief Buttons

I've been reading Randy Gage's blog, and recently he's been talking about breakthroughs, and the difference between real breakthoughs in life, and fake ones.

The difference, from what I've experienced, and have seen others experience, is that what most people consider 'breakthroughs' are just lies they are telling themselves and others. These temporary breakthroughs mask the symptoms to what is the belief behind the action.

An example of this is, as given on Randy's blog, leaving a dysfunctional marriage or relationship, and discovering yourself right back in another relationship, or two, or three, or...you get the idea, that resembles the first one.

Here's the tricky part. The relationship, or person you are attracting is just the symptom or result of the deeper issue.

The deeper issue is your core beliefs around the subject.  We'll go further into this in upcoming entries. But for now, I want you to look at your life, and what it involves and ask yourself...where are patterns repeated throughout my life?

They can be anything from your past and current jobs,  past and current relationships, past and current surroundings, and as broad as past and current re-occuring situations you find yourself in.

Remember, YOU are manifesting these things into your life based on your thinking and core beliefs. I look forward to your input