"Break
rules Michael? I couldn't do that!" Of course you could. In fact, I'd suggest your rules are precisely what keep you from having what you want in life.When I say "rules," I mean:
* your ingrained ways of thinking. * your hidden assumptions. * your habits. * your misplaced generalities.
Rules might also include that which you call "common sense." One of greatest rule breakers ever, Albert Einstein, wrote "common sense is collection of prejudices acquired by age 18."
Are you feeling "stuck?" Are you in a rut? Can't find a solution to an ongoing problem or challenge? If so, like many of my clients, it's probably one of your rules keeping you that way.
Here's a simple example. A client - who I'll call Janice - really wanted to begin an exercise program, but she had written it off as impossible due to her busy schedule.
In our conversations, Janice would say things like "that's just way it is," or "it's out of my control." As I questioned Janice further, it became clear one of her rules was "I have to go to a gym to workout."
Now that may sound silly to some people, but for Janice, all she knew was "I have to go to a gym to work out, and I don't have time to go to a gym." Like a horse with blinders on, it's all she could see.
"Janice, who says you have to go to a gym to exercise?"
Light-bulb-aha moment for sure. As soon as Janice let go of that little rule, she was able to consider many other options available to her.
