It’s not that Positive Thinking doesn’t work, it does. However, Getting on with it is a more effective tool.
Access the situation and ask yourself: “What’s the best thing I can do now?” Then follow through. Focus on our actions, results we’re getting, and adjust on the fly. That’s investing in the process.
Similar to watching a Star Wars episode. We see Luke or Hans Solo racing the clock to save the rebellion! Things go wrong, his initial plans foiled, fall through time and time again. Does he stop and say, “My bad” and kick himself? No! No time or value in labeling good or bad. He determined the best thing to do next and repeatedly kept at it until he won the day!
Another getting on with it example: The Concorde SST was a supersonic transport passenger jet. The pilots had control during takeoff and landing but used autopilot during the flight. Because of its speed, standard navigational mistakes had to be immediately corrected, before the plane traveled further off course. The jet’s autopilot was in constant contact with a computer at the airport, sending corrections to the jet. The jet in split second time would receive the message and self-correct, repeatedly, time after time, until it the pilots took control to land.
“God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscious, but shouts in our pains.” This C. S. Lewis quote inspired me to reflect on communicating with God. I combined it with how the SST communicated with the airport and imagined an early alert system notifying us when we’re straying from our path.
The more we can stay aligned with our principles, intentions and purposes, the more God whispers to us. As we experience moments of veering off course, God speaks up to alert us.
When we disregard the alerts, we suddenly experience pains as God shouts to us, warning us of even greater danger ahead. We may even have ‘Footprints in the Sand’ moments during those times we continue to disregard the alerts. Then, we suddenly awaken to our alerts and make the corrections needed. And, similar to the Concorde SST example, we’re back on track.
This is next to embarrassing but I think you’ll agree it demonstrates my message. Back when I was share driving, I began to occasionally notice a gentle front-end vibration when I braked. Although I didn’t understand then, the vibration was my car alerting me to go see my mechanic.
I told myself I would take my car in. I didn’t set a time. Gradually, I noticed that although still gentle, the vibrations increased in frequency. I thought, “I’ve got to take this in.” Sure enough, the day of reckoning arrived. I started my first ride and felt/heard a harder/louder brake grinding.
Although I was looking forward to a big productive day, it was over. I was now wondering how much it was going to cost me. The pain was coming! I was extremely fortunate. By responding promptly and appropriately, no damage was done.
The point is – mistakes occur. It doesn’t serve us well to label a mistake or ourselves as bad. It does serve us to ask: “What is the best thing to do now?” Invest in the process. Focus your attention on asking yourself what’s the best move you can make now and do it.