How often have you heard someone say, “it’s easier said than done? “How often have you used it?”
I bet if I was to get a dollar for every time I heard it, I would be filthy rich today. You probably would have contributed to my success.
The context in which I hear this most, and maybe you too, is when someone is being challenged to make certain changes in their life. They quickly grab for this when they don’t want to do so.
Let me be fair by saying that there are certain exceptions to this. I don’t want to be insensitive to those who are in deep emotional, physical, or mental anguish. I would, for the most part, exempt those situations.
USED AS AN EXCUSE
However, the vast majority of people use this phrase simply as an excuse.
When they look at what is required to make changes, they panic. They feel the dread, overwhelm, and the responsibility. They have an immediate knot in the pit of their stomach as they envision what they would have to do and how it would look.
Because of the picture formed in their mind, they have that knee-jerk reaction and shut down. On the surface it’s now easier to say, “it’s easier said than done.”
The question is “How do you argue with that?” They know themselves better than you do. This aligns to what King. Solomon said in Proverbs: “the heart knows its own bitterness…”
FIXED MINDSET VERSUS GROWTH MINDSET
Hears the problem with using “it’s easier said than done” without taking time to think through your other options and alternative approaches. You lock yourself into thinking that there’s only one way to do things. You become a fixed-mindset instead of a growth-mindset person.
What’s that you ask? Fixed-mindset? Growth-mindset?
A fixed-mindset person is one who only sees one way to get to a solution or to do things. They cannot see alternatives. They only see the problem.
A growth-mindset person, on the other hand, is one who sees a problem and thinks of a number of ways to solve it. They think solution rather than a problem.
IT HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL
I used to lean more to the fixed-mindset person. I was conditioned from earlier on in life to do things by the “book” whatever that means.
I had to color within the line. Write within the lines. Walk or stand in a straight line. Hold the knife in my right hand and the fork in my left hand. By the way, there’s nothing wrong with any of these. As a matter of fact, there are times when some of these disciplines are absolutely necessary. I get that.
But for the most part, what this did was unconsciously condition me for a fixed-mindset way of life. I accepted and went with the flow. Heck, everyone else did it.
Breaking free from this wasn’t easy. It required some serious brain retraining. The results I was getting from a fixed-mindset wasn’t what I truly wanted. It limited me. It locked me in. It kept me from my full potential.
Maybe this is happening to you as well.
DON’T BUY IT ANYMORE!
If you find yourself using this phrase often, can I challenge you to check yourself? Why are you using it? Is it because the “work” to get the new results seem too much? Is it fear? Is it feelings of inadequacy?
Whatever it is, I’m here to tell you that you can do what you’re being asked. Instead of using the praise “It’s easier said than done” why not say “it’s easily said but it is possible to do?”
In doing so, you are admitting that it won’t be easy, which by the way, nothing that’s worth it is ever easy, but there’s a possibility that you can find a way to do so.
When you give yourself this start, your brain helps you find a way to do it.
Your other option is to get someone to help you figure it out. Just start with “it’s possible” and then see who you know that have the skills and techniques to help you find a way to get to your result.
If you aren’t sure who to ask, I might be able to help you. The framework that I’ve developed – The Rapid Change SMOOTH Framework .is designed with this in mind.
You may be able to benefit from it. But we won’t know until we give it a shot.
Reach out to me and let’s see if you could benefit from working with me.
A NEW PHRASE
Whatever you do, change your phrase from “it’s easier said than done” to “It’s easily said but it’s possible to do”
Now, help me find the person who introduced this phrase “its‘ easier said than done” and let’s have him or her arrested and jailed. :-)
