Gary is drinking a cup of coffee. While he’s enjoying his java an EEG is administered. This measures the electrical activity of Gary’s brain. Not too long after Gary is asked to close his eyes and think about drinking that cup of coffee again. A second EEG reveals something intriguing. It’s very similar to the first. I learned this from Roy H. Williams at a place called Wizard Academy. Don’t worry, it’s totally not a cult.
Confession: Gary’s not a real person. I made him up. But that is what would happen if you did that experiment. The theory is that our brains can’t tell the difference between doing something and merely thinking about doing that thing. Trippy, eh? Those thoughts you are having are more powerful than you may like to believe.
When you think about something, you’re engaging in a risk-free trial of a future. Consider it try-before-you-buy. You play out scenarios that can seem as real as reality. Kind of like having a hard time remembering if the time you’re remembering actually happened or actually happened in a dream.
Premeditated.
There’s another word for it.
Intentional.
There’s one more.
Together, two words that can show us the way if we’re open to listening.
Sometimes the failure in your life can be premeditated in two ways. First, the failure isn’t even a reality at this point yet we let it stop us before we start. Secondly, because it’s as devious as it sounds.
Sometimes we choose to choose. This is being intentional. No matter how many “things” happen to you, you’re not the kind of person that things happen to. Instead, you choose. This is your first choice that gives every choice that follows a fighting chance.
Now play back the story you tell yourself about yourself.
Is it premeditated or intentional?
The wonderful news is it doesn’t matter anyway. The only thing that matters is what you make it right now and the right now after right now.
