Why can’t I get what I want?
You might think you are doing everything you can to get healthy, thin, a better job, a better love relationship. But, I doubt it.
More likely, your inner 6 year-old is making most of your decisions for you. We call that youthful voice in your head “the brat” and if you want to know what it sounds like just hang out at your local pool at closing time and observe the children who aren’t ready to go home yet.
They’ll try everything – charm, cajoling, whimpering, begging, bargaining and finally a tantrum – to get to stay “JUST 5 more minutes.” Now think about the last time you didn’t want to stop watching TV when it was time for you to go to bed. I bet you put up a bit of fight too. There may even have been some bargaining.
You may have heard yourself promise yourself “just 5 more minutes” or “tomorrow night I’ll go to bed early and get up early the next day” knowing that you probably wouldn’t. And, just like a child, you have excuses that seem to cover any counter argument—it will make me happy, it’s no big deal, everyone else is doing it, I deserve it!
Or are you the kid at the grocery store checkout in front of the candy torturing her mother with “it’s just gum” or “I’ll buy it with my own money” or “I swear I won’t eat it til after dinner.” That kid wears down all but the most resolute parents just as your inner brat wears down your resolve almost every time.
Listen to your inner brat the next time you are standing in front of the refrigerator after you already ate or are looking for dessert. The voice talking to you in that moment is not a mature and self-loving one. That voice wants what she wants when she wants it and she is willing to lie to you, manipulate you, charm you and even tantrum for it.
You will be defenseless against that voice until you lovingly call it what it is: a BRAT. And it’s getting away with murder when you consider what you really want for yourself.
So what do you want?
Grab your journal and write down what that is. Then quickly, without thinking about it, make a list of everything you do that gets in the way of having it. Label it the “brat list” and share it with the people closest to you.
Now you’re ready to beat the brat. Promise to tell your friends every time the brat wins. In other words, tattle tale on the brat. The brat doesn’t like to be found out and it doesn’t like being tattled on, so this is the trick to use to get it to take a time out.
Ready to play? Share some of your list below.
Love, Laurie
P.S- Put your brat in the corner and get inspired to do what you really want for yourself at our Just Do It Challenge happening on Tuesday, May 27th.