The "Mental Diet" challenge. 7 reasons why I'm doing it.

I did this over 20 years ago. I was a salesman, and I remember having record numbers during and after that time.

I haven't tried it again since. But the exercise helped me reinforce the habit of focusing more on the solution than the problem in my daily life.

What I'm speaking about?

The Mental Diet...

Source: A concept read in Awaken the Giant Within Book by Tony Robbins.

The exercise: For 10 days, the goal is not to have bad thoughts and not to complain. As soon as you have one (you will), focus on the solution. If you spend more than 2 minutes obsessing about the problem, you have to start over.

I started 4 days ago, so I'm ahead of you. Are you ready to join?

7 reasons why I'm doing it.

1. It develops my self-discipline

Thanks to it, I don't need to rely on my talent (I don't have much), or my motivation (she sometimes fails me).
But my self-discipline, I can always count on it.

2. Make it measurable.

Personal development is often abstract. A good way to turn it into a measurable experience.

3. Take advantage of compound interest

I remembered sitting in my car in a small business park in a Parisian suburb, waiting for my next appointment more than twenty years ago.

You guessed it. I was a salesman. My morning, my week had been terrible. I was finishing a sandwich, lamenting my fate.

Damn, I had to start all over again after having managed to last 7 days.

At the end, I made it and still get the ripple effect today.

I have developed automatisms, thanks to this experience, that make me switch more quickly to the solution in my everyday life.

4. Share with your loved one.

I started doing this with my wife. We can help and challenge each other.

5. Go out of my comfort zone

That's where the growth happens

6. Make it fun

Do it for 10 days, lose and have to start over. It's challenging and fun.

7. I create memories

“The business of life is the acquisition of memories. At the end that’s all there is.”
— Downton Abbey

More than 20 years later, I still remember when I lost my streak in that exercise.

MrOTG