To talk about energy and affirmations may be too 'kookie' or 'New Age' for some people but I've tried this technique when faced with some basic chores, like doing bills and laundry, that I had been putting off and it seems to help motivate me.
Before I explain the simple technique, I want to mention that this comes from the work of Carol Tuttle. Carol is the creator of a system of Energy Profiling based on qualities of who you are since birth as expressed through your movement. She says people generally fall into 4 Energy Types. If you are true to your nature you will feel a sense of peace, balance, and ease. Carol Tuttle has also taken Energy Profiling and applied to how we present ourselves and came up with the program Dressing Your Truth (I'll cover some observations in another blog.)
Carol explains that who we are and what we do is energy. She says ideally we should all move through life with EASE and not force. For instance, which would you prefer to do a task that is your idea and you WANT to do it? Or to do something that someone is forcing you to do? That's an easy one.
This is all you do: FIRST - When faced with something you are hesitant about or procrastinating on, ask yourself a couple of questions. (This works on chores and smaller things in life.)
"Is this something that is correct for me?" In other words, do we hesitate because it is illegal, immoral, dangerous, against our nature, or intuitively wrong and our subconscious is stopping us?
NEXT, ask yourself "Is this something I 'want' to accomplish or is it something I 'should' do?" She says when we use the word 'should' we have the feeling of being forced to do something and we dread it and want to avoid it. She says we shouldn't "move through life with force". [I remember a Martha Stewart article a long time ago about something similar, only she didn't discuss it with 'energy' work. Martha had recommended rephrasing - instead of "I have to do laundry", say "I want to get laundry done".] Sometimes, something may feel like a 'should' but it is really "I want to have it done but it isn't going to be fun".
THEN, if you decide to continue with a task, before you begin it, she says to visualize THE FEELING you'll have when you accomplish it. She says, "...examine 'What does it feel like to have that done?' 'What would you be saying to yourself? Say that now.' "
It's as if, by tapping into the relaxing feeling of having the chore done, it charges you with energy to put the chore in motion. She says that visualization puts the energy into motion before you physically start the task. She says it "Creates momentum to carry you to accomplish things."
I like to think of it as the DOGGIE PADDLE. You know how when hold a dog over the water, instantly all four legs start paddling like crazy, and they haven't even touched the water yet? Their little bodies are putting the energy in motion before it is needed. It's kind of like that! Once you visualize the FEELING and emotion of having the task completed, you feel the apprehension flow away and energy will feel recharged. Then, you are well on your way and motivated to put the task in motion - and that is half the battle.
So, think about your next chore, ask yourself some questions and DO THE DOGGIE PADDLE! "Set the energy into motion with more ease without force." See if it works for you!