Don’t use will-power (unless you want to exercise it, like “the quiet game”) – when you want to actually do something, side-step will-power, work around it: call it “tricking yourself” or “distracting yourself”, but avoid engaging the resistance; once the decision has been made, act without thinking, at least without thinking “whether”: think about how, the very next step in doing it; once you’ve made the decision, let it happen to you, rather than trying to make the decision over and over, or trying to make it with “more force”.

Once you begin doing, have the decision already fully made, and leave it decided: once the decision is fully made, leave it decided, and begin doing it.

“The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns” – instead of forcing through the hedge, don’t go the way of the slothful: take another route, use the stile, use the gate. You don’t overcome temptation by entering temptation, by mightily subjecting yourself to strong temptation, but by fleeing it: “Lead us not into temptation”.
“Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Pr 4

#SabbathPosts 2023/08/19