One of the harsh little realities of pursuing a dream is that sooner or later, you’re going to have to do some stuff you don’t like very much. It’s just plain inevitable.

Enter procrastination. Dread. Meltdown. Complete inertia.

But the prospect of doing the tough stuff doesn’t have to stop you cold. To that end, I’ve been teasing out some different ways you can keep going. Here are a few of my favorites:

Play music. I learned this when I started running, or ‘jogging’ as we called it back in the 70’s. Clamping on the headphones made it go so much better. Even today, as I pound the treadmill, it’s just so much easier if I’ve got country music videos playing along while I work out.

In fact, there’s a remarkable moment in Michael Moore’s documentary, Fahrenheit 911, in which a soldier talks about overcoming his fear and going into battle by listening to heavy metal music piped into his helmet. Neurosurgeons, emergency room docs, and others in high-pressure operating theaters often play lightly upbeat, soothing music to keep stress under control as they work.

‘Bookend it’. This is a phrase the 12-steppers wisely use for calling up a supportive friend before AND after a tough task ... just so you’re accountable out there to someone. Use the phone or email and make that connection. You’ll be less likely to procrastinate your way out of it.

>>> Click to Continue Reading "How to Do Hard Things"

© Copyright Suzanne Falter-Barns. This article was originally published at our website, SoulfulLiving.com, in Aug-Sept 2004, as part of Soulful Living's "Moving Forward" Issue.

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