Find Your Trigger, and then Pull It
A remake of the movie “Dumbo” was released on March 29, 2018.. It tells the story of a baby elephant who can fly, but only with the help of a feather. Of course, the feather doesn’t actually help Dumbo fly because he can fly on his own, but the feather is a trigger. Triggers are things that inspire, encourage, or cause us to respond in ways we normally would not.
Some triggers cause an unpleasant reaction. Usually, we don't get upset when answering the phone, but our blood starts to boil the moment we answer and hear a long pause waiting for the telemarketer to say something.
Some triggers cause positive reactions. We smile at others when they smile at us. We feel loved when our spouse, kid, or parent gives us a hug. We feel happy when walking out of our dimly-lit office and into a beautiful sunshiny day.
But some triggers lead us to act. Triggers are shortcuts for our brains. We can hijack them to perform better at home, at work, or in the gym. A few years ago, I realized that even when I was at home with family, I wasn’t being “present” with them. Though we sat around the dinner table together, my mind was wandering on thoughts about work. To reframe my focus around my family, I built a trigger of images; I started a collage of pictures on my bathroom mirror of me with my daughters and wife. I also included little notes they had written me along with Bible verses I had written myself. When I need to “reset” – or remind myself to be ‘present’ with my family – I look at my collage.
If you ever find yourself unmotivated at work to finish the project you have been working on every day for two weeks, try listening to motivational music. The beautiful part of searching for motivational songs is that all genres can fit. “Skyscraper” (Demi Lovato), “Get up Stand up” (Bob Marley), and “Tubthumping” (Chumbawumba) are all motivational songs but very different musically.
One of the best triggers is for people to wake up and immediately hit the gym before their mind is awake enough to convince them not to go. Just in case you are someone who works out after work and needs motivation not to go straight home, try watching a motivational video before leaving your desk. Do a quick YouTube search of "Remember the Titans," "My 120-pound Journey", "TCU The Grind," or my favorite: "No Excuses" to find some videos that will inspire you.
Triggers can be unique to you, but their purpose is to encourage action. They can be images, songs, or videos. They can even be words, phrases or rituals. When you need to switch gears or stay on track, use triggers. Today, start working on your “trigger toolbox” that you can use when you need them.