flowchart LR Action --> Mood
Mood follows action.
-or-
flowchart LR Action --> Thoughts --> Feelings --> Mood
flowchart TB Thoughts[Thoughts, Cognition] -- Create --> Feelings[Emotions, Feelings] Feelings -- Create --> Behaviors[Behaviors, Actions] Behaviors -- Reinforce --> Thoughts
“Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is based on this idea that our thoughts and feelings become behaviours.” https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/thinking-vs-feeling.htm
Actions change first, then thoughts, then feelings. Alexi Pappas on Rich Roll
But what about…
Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
So is it thoughts create actions or actions create thoughts. It’s both. Which one to do? When you’re stuck in thought (as is often the case these days), take action.
When you’re stuck. Not resonanting. think tuning fork.
Don’t count on mood, count on habits
“The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity.” - James Clear
Thing of crankshaft that’s stuck at bottom dead center.
“Motivation is the fuel necessary to keep the human engine running.”
— Zig Ziglar
The external motivation is the starter. The intrinic motivation is the flywheel. The dynamic between thought, feelings, and action is the rotation.
Article #2: The Secret to Raising Smart Kids
Carol Dweck shares how growth mindsets can help you raise happier kids, a family (or employees).
Thesis:
“an overemphasis on intellect or talent leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unwilling to remedy their shortcomings.”
see: life-long learning, learned helplessness
Resonate:
“In particular, attributing poor performance to a lack of ability depresses motivation more than does the belief that lack of effort is to blame.”
Because slipups stem from a lack of effort or acquirable skills, not fixed ability, they can be remedied by perseverance
Will-power. Ask: can this be attributed to effort? Could you have done more? What would have made it easier? What tools would help?