Page 88 - 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself

Taking all of one’s courage, relaxation, and spirituality from a bottle of

alcohol is a very damaging habit. But to simply eliminate it leads to even worse
problems: detoxing, fear, dread, paranoia. A total void.

People who join Alcoholics Anonymous, however, replace their “false
courage”—once found in a bottle of alcohol—with real courage found in the
meeting rooms of AA. The completely artificial sense of spirituality formerly
found in a tumbler of spirits is replaced by the true and deeply personal
spirituality found in working the 12-step program of enlightenment. The
superficial but highly emotional relationships the alcoholic makes in his favorite
bars are replaced by real friendships.

Replacement is powerful because it works, and where bad habits are
concerned it’s the only thing that works. I’ve known people who quit smoking
without intending to. They took up running, or some form of regular aerobic

exercise, and soon the breathing and relaxation they were getting from the
exercise made the smoking feel bad to their bodies. They quit smoking because
they had introduced a replacement. People who diet have the same experience. It
isn’t staying away from fattening food that works—it’s introducing a regular diet
of delicious, healthy food that works. It’s replacement.

Subconsciously you don’t think your bad habits are bad! And that’s because
they’re filling a perceived need. So the way to strengthen yourself is to identify
the need and honor it. Honor the need by replacing the current habit with one
that is healthier and more effective. Replace one habit, and soon you’ll be
motivated to replace another.

60. Paint your masterpiece today

Think of your day as a blank artist’s canvas. If you go through your day
passively accepting whatever other people and circumstances splatter on your

canvas, you will more than likely see a mess where art could be. If the mess
troubles your sleep, your next new day will begin in a state of fatigue and mild
confusion. From such a state, your canvas will be splattered all the more with
shapes you don’t like and colors you never chose.

Thinking of your day as a painter’s canvas will allow you to be more
conscious of what is happening to you when you flood your mind with nothing
but Internet gossip, commercials on the radio, the latest murder trial, your