10-second mind trick: execution

This mind trick instantly calms all thoughts, including:

anxious thoughts
perfectionistic thoughts
fearful thoughts
thoughts of grief and regret

and all other thoughts that cause discomfort, which makes taking action harder.

So, here’s how you can do it in 10 seconds:

Firstly, relax, sit comfortably, and take a few breaths

Think about one task you currently procrastinate on (cleaning your desk, for example)

Notice there are now different thoughts popping into your mind. Thoughts like: “this will take forever”; “I have to reply to that email”; “What is that person thinking of me?”, “I should have acted different in past” and so on:

Now, imagine there is a big, thick wooden box with a heavy lid. Open the lid.

Take the first thought you notice and put it in the box. For example, if you are thinking about a colleague who made you angry, imagine you are putting him in the box

Do that for every thought that you notice, until your mind feels empty.

Close the big wooden lid.

Don’t worry - you are putting stuff in the box just for a few minutes; you will take them back out when it’s time to deal with them.

If any thought breaks out of the box, just quickly repeat the mental process, put it back into the box, and close the lid.

Give it a try right now. If you feel even a little bit more at ease, that's all you need right now. Later you will learn how to make it much more effective as it becomes your subconsious habit.

In the second part of the free preview, you will discover how to eliminate cravings for quick fixes and make little productive tasks feel enjoyable.

10-second mind trick: execution

This mind trick instantly calms all thoughts, including:

anxious thoughts
perfectionistic thoughts
fearful thoughts
thoughts of grief and regret

and all other thoughts that cause discomfort, which makes taking action harder.