Shawn Phillips | Start Strong Monday

What are you TRYING to do in your life right now?

Do any of these sound familiar?

“I’m trying to lose 20 pounds.”

“I’m trying to make her happy.”

When you read those… any feeling come up for you? Maybe subtle frustration or helplessness?

Trying is a tricky thing. There are some very smart people in the world who will tell you it’s a hypnotic word that actually releases your desire and responsibility, almost ensuring that you’ll not achieve what you said.

Make sense? You tell someone, “I’m trying to lose weight.” And they’ll nod and give you a nice boost and you get some temporary relief from doing nothing and are rewarded for no action or results.

Crazy, huh?

So, I’ve understood this for a long time and I make a point to be very mindful about using “try” or “trying” but today I saw an example of the absurdity of the word and how we use it that really made it more vividly clear than ever. That’s what I want to share with you–with the hopes this is as clear for you as it was for me.

“I’m trying grow my hair out.”

I read that and thought, “Bullsh$t!” You either grow it or your don’t. Just as there’s no crying in baseball there’s not TRYING in growing your hair.

I understand the person who wrote is was just using the English language as most of us, haphazardly but teh example is too good. For we both know that all the squinting, squeezing and trying doesn’t grow your hair. It’s a do or don’t. A choice.

Now, go back to the list above.

Are you “trying to lose weight” or are you eating healthier and on the journey to a leaner life?

Are you trying to make more money or are you making the same but focused on changing that, with a plan of action?

Are you trying to make her happy or are you showing her how much you love her, every day?

Clear? I think this is as clear as I’ve ever been on “Trying” and I can assure you I’m done TRYING and ready to just simple DO.

How about you?