Grilled Frog On Toast Anyone?
September 16, 2008
Yes, I’ve been eating frogs. Not the real ones - the metaphorical ones. If you’ve read Brian Tracey’s - Eat That Frog, you’ll know what I mean. He advises you to eat the biggest, most disgusting frog first thing in the morning - the task you’re dreading most.
His book is wonderful for disorganised people like me. Trouble is, for a few weeks, I’ve had some giant frogs that I couldn’t face eating. And because I didn’t want to eat the frogs, I ignored my to do list. So I wasn’t getting all the little frogs eaten either.
The reason I’ve been avoiding the big frogs is because they’re associated with someone who has caused a lot of problems and stress for me. Trouble is, those frogs are so important that I can’t ignore them or delegate the task to anyone else.
So, I was reading Ask & It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks and I realised that the first thing I needed to do was believe the outcome would be positive and that I’ll get what I want, if I eat the frogs. That seemed easier said than done and I’ve been trying my best to convince myself that it’s true. But I still had to make myself tackle the first frog.
Well, I thought for a while then the simplest idea popped into my head. I don’t know where it came from. But all I did was add an extra column on my to do list. And in that column, beside each task, I wrote the benefit I would receive if I did it.
It was as simple as that and I tackled the first frog in no time. Tomorrow, I’m going to tackle the second one.
If you’re struggling to do an essential but horrible task, you might want to do the same as I did. Convince yourself that the outcome will be positive. Then write the benefit you’ll receive if you do the task.
Does anyone have any more tips on eating those huge frogs? Or have you tried something similar? How did it work out?
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I like this idea.
I somehow just make myself eat them. But I’m a highly disciplined person.
Vered - MomGrind’s last blog post..Hate Mail: Apparently, I’m a Bad Mom
Hi Vered - I wish I could do that all the time. Putting them at the top of the list used to work - but I really struggled with these ones until today.
You speaking all metaphorical today, too, Cath?!
Fantastic that you got that task out of the way and discovered an new trick along the way - I think I do much the same thing, or maybe tell myself I’ll feel much better when it’s done. I’ve even been known to have champagne to celebrate (for things other people might think are fairly minor).
Robin’s last blog post..Insects Versus Mother Theresa
I like the idea of adding a column to my task list. Thinking positive is something I do every day. Ever since I read “The Secret” I can’t help but be positive.
The concept of the Universal Law of Attraction is so stimulating and to me really makes sense. The universe only understands Good vs Bad, so if you are thinking positive that is a good emotion and good things will happen to you.
Changing my way of thinking has helped to accomplish so many more of my tasks.
Great post,
~ Jim
Jim Gaudet’s last blog post..?It’s spelled F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L not F-Ú-T-B-O-L?
Hi Jim - it really does work doesn’t it? I first read about it in Think and Grow Rich but Ask And It Is Given really goes into a lot of depth and has some great exercises to try.
I can say with certainty that it does work. My life has improved every day since changing my attitude. And, I can’t stop trying to teach others to trust in it.
I am going to get Ask And It Is Given, good recommendation.
~ Jim
Jim Gaudet’s last blog post..?It’s spelled F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L not F-Ú-T-B-O-L?
Hi Catherine,
That’s a wonderful idea to add that column to your “to do” list, Just looking at what the benefit will be is motivation in itself.
I agree with Jim. I read “The Secret”, and watched the DVD. It made sense to me and reinforced the importance of having positivity as part of my attitude.
I haven’t read “Ask and It Is Given” yet, but it sounds like another great book on the law of attraction.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..NBOTW - Determined To Be The Best
Jim - you’ll love the book it’s great.
Hi Barbara - I didn’t even think of it myself, it just came to me, without even thinking. It was amazing and it got me to do the things I’d put off right away.
The folk that wrote the book were in the Secret DVD too. You’d really like it.
I commit to doing things a little bit each day. That way they get done but I don’t have to focus on them. Also it usually reaches a point where I just get it done because I’m tired of it taking 15 or 30 minutes of my day when I could be doing something more enjoyable.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..A Life Without Somedays: Erin Doland Interview
Hi Alex - That’s another good way of getting things done. I guess that if I’d done these jobs a little bit at a time I’d have got them finished weeks ago.
I love this idea. I’ve been doing the fun things first…
chris’s last blog post..Fall Cleaning
Hi Chris - I used to do that too. This is certainly worth a try.
This reminds me of a paper I had to write on how perfectionism leads to procrastination and vice versa. The procrastination from the big frogs leads to procrastination and perfectionism with the little frogs too. Thanks for sharing this. I am off to write my to do list for today
Dr. Nicole Sundene’s last blog post..Zen Please? 20 Things to do on Your Day Off
Ok…I am having some problems with your suggestion here…*choking away*! I know you meant it metaphorically. But the image of the frog stuck on my throat just did it for me. I can’t get pass having the picture in my mind now.
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..Blessings For Healing
Hi Rita - I remember your post on “piles” and I figured you must be as disorganised as me. It’s good that you’re busy though - your second novel is going to be a lot of fun and you’re doing a brilliant job at organising that so far.
Hi Dr Nicole - It can cause a huge blockage of frogs if you’re not careful can’t it? I hope your to do list goes brilliantly well today and you get all those frogs eaten.
Hi Evelyn - I’m sorry it had that affect on you. I hope you’ve been able to stop thinking about it for now. I know what you mean though.
I hate it when you get a picture in your head that you don’t want to keep seeing. Maybe you need to create another picture of the frog jumping into the pond and swimming away from you.
Hi Cath: I have been maintaining to-do lists since I was eight years old, but I always put the easy and fun things at the top and the frogs at the bottom. You have now given me two ideas — first to put the tough and the not so fun things at the top and addition of this magic column. I think it is going to work like a charm. Thank you.
The added column to the T0 DO list is truly INSPIRED! It would definitely make swallowing the frog easier, if not tasty!
Kathy’s last blog post..The Moral to the Story - Keep Your Wordpress Installation Up to Date.
Hi Rita - that piles post was brilliant. You getting robbed was not so brilliant tho. Have read the author blog.
Hi Raj - It’s pretty impressive that you started doing “to do lists” at that age. I hope this way will work for you - the extra column really helps.
Hi Kathy. It really does make things easier. It works really well when the benefit is a financial one too.
Hey Cath,
I like the champagne idea!
This is something I’ve struggled with personally a lot of times. It is not like raking the leaves or doing the dishes or avoiding some other unpleasant task. Yes, there are related elements — you have to steel yourself to get it done.
But the huge difference is that it affects the creative process. You can’t just put your head down and mindlessly power through it, you have to be emotionally and creatively invested in the task — and sometimes that is a hard thing to do when you despise the idea in the first place.
I am no expert at finding the answer to this conundrum. Or rather, not a long-term solution. I still dodge things I don’t want to do. But I love that image of the frog — it’s like Survivor when they have to eat some gross thing to win immunity. You have to get that same look as they do. Focus on one point, get yourself into a Zen-like state, bite the head off the frog, swallow the body, and imagine marshmallows the whole time. Once it’s finished, puke or do whatever you have to do, and then get on with your day.
Yes, it is hell. But then it is done. Not only will you feel better (which is a reward in itself), there be other bonuses in your life. Like, for example, you’ll also find that you’re not yelling at the kids so much…
~Graham
Graham Strong’s last blog post..Writer’s Block: Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
Hello Cath,
I love the photograph and the good article about getting those frogs down the hatch and out the other side.
I am sorry it took me so long to comment, but my computer has been up and down.
I am going to add the benefit column to my to do list right away, I think that is a wonderful idea and I will put the book reference on my Kindle too. So much to be thankful for in your post. I present you with a hug and a pat on the back thank you.
Thank you also for all your wonderful sharing and comments on my PTSD posts. I am getting so many emails about how helpful your sharing of your story is to veterans of trauma.
May I figure out how to put a link to your post onto my next weeks Factoid Fridays post?
Hi Graham - I read your comment and had to come back. I was eating cheese on toast, when you mentioned puking. Yuk.
That’s a good point - as well as the reward you’ll get just for doing the task, whether it’s less stress because you’re VAT return is in on time, money or whatever, there’s also other benefits. I hadn’t thought about the knock on effects too. All the more reason to do it then.
Hi Patricia - I’m glad it helps. I haven’t tried Kindle yet. Is it quite a useful gadget?
You are welcome, I’m really enjoying your series and if my comments are helping folk too, that’s even better.
Just from reading what you’ve discovered I’ve learned things about myself that I didn’t know. Thank you.
Cath,
I just wrote you into my 9/26 Factoid Friday’s post about Frogs and referred readers to this post on your site.
I love - adore and enjoy my Kindle so much, I don’t know how I did things before I got it. Truly a blessing
I can read things so fast and with all the news sources I read each day - there they all are in about 5 minutes already downloaded on the Kindle - even at 2am when might not be able to sleep. Plus researching stuff…oh my! and quotes…yahoo!
I have taken at least a hundred books to the recycling store - will not replace PAT THE BUNNY…but for us big readers, what a boon. If you go through my website to get one from Amazon.com I get a couple of s heckles in my pocket too!
I love to learn new things and resource them out to good folks. Your comments are bringing good news to healing folks Thank you
Patricia’s last blog post..PTSD Part 3: Who Do You Trust? Let’s Revive The Old Game Show
@Cath - lol - sorry ’bout that. Just trying to stay in the right vein!
~Graham
Graham Strong’s last blog post..Writer’s Block: Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
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