Success in life largely depends on the habits we form. Our daily activities are often organized and executed according to our routines or habitual behaviors. Inner Matrix Systems (IMS) trains high achievers to develop vision-focused habits, and in this article, IMS CEO Joey Klein offers suggestions on how to avoid self-destructive attitudes.
While positive vision-focused habits (or conscious routines) help pave the way for achievement, their destructive counterparts (bad unconscious habits) can undermine our most important relationships and derail a promising career. These harmful daily routines that rob us of joy and success are often overlooked and can go unchecked for years.
Examine your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to identify any of these habits and shift them to something that will produce the outcome you seek.
1. Dwelling on stress-inducing thoughts
More than ever before, people around the world suffer from stress-induced health consequences, including depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Mindfulness training teaches people how to focus on the present moment. Differentiating between what we can and cannot control will reduce stress and anxiety.
2. Negative self-talk
This is an especially pernicious habit that creates shame and anxiety. Constantly berating yourself is debilitating. Engaging consistent mindfulness or inner training practice daily— where you name the vision and outcome you want to create and how you want to feel — will help you to limit those beliefs that are taking you away from achieving your vision.
3. Resisting help from others
The misconception that asking for help is a sign of weakness leads many people to fail personally and professionally. No one has all the answers, so asking for help indicates you are healthy and well-balanced. Because you ask for someone’s advice or opinion does not mean you are obligated to accept or follow it. You can always thank them and make your own decisions, but asking may make you feel better.
4. Procrastination
Do you ever tell yourself that you work better under pressure? Do you believe waiting until the last minute is justified? That’s a common coping strategy for boredom, uncertainty, or a lack of creativity. When we don’t know how best to tackle a task or simply can’t motivate ourselves to do it, we often put it off until the very last minute. When you are aware that you are procrastinating, simply ask yourself how you feel in that moment. Oftentimes, you may feel stressed or anxious, which makes it impossible to motivate yourself to take action. When you notice you feel an emotion that will never lead to the outcome you want, take a moment to take a few deep breaths and focus on the outcome and how you’ll feel when the task is complete. Focussing on the emotion you’ll feel when you complete the task may help to motivate you.
5. Approval seeking
In a world too often measured by “likes” and “follows,” we overestimate the value of external approval. Unless it’s from a loved one, a supervisor, or a mentor, approval from another person is merely ego gratification and will not provide enough substance to help you succeed. Do your best work and earn approval from yourself. Only then will you gain a sense of accomplishment.
By overcoming self-destructive habits, we can influence our emotions, achieve our goals, and live fulfilling lives.
About Inner Matrix Systems
Inner Matrix Systems, based in Denver, is a personal mastery training system for high achievers. For more than twenty years, IMS has delivered a proprietary methodology that rewires, trains, and aligns the nervous system, emotions, and thought strategies to create real-life results. CEO, Joey Klein, and IMS have worked with more than 80,000 individuals from around the world through both live and online training programs, as well as one-on-one coaching. Clients have included: Boeing, IBM, Dell, Google, Panda Express, Coca Cola and The World Health Organization. Joey is the author of The Inner Matrix: Leveraging the Art & Science of Personal Mastery to Create Real Life Results (June 2021).
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.