Are You "Trying" Too Hard To Make Something Happen?

Yoda, the wise one from Star Wars, said, "There is no try, there is only do." If you find yourself "trying" too hard in life, you might see what happens when you eliminate this word from your vocabulary.

Try to pick up a pen from your desk. If you picked it up you didn't try, you did it. Trying amounts to not doing. If you try to get somewhere on time, you probably won't. However, if you committed to get somewhere on time, you probably will. Experiment with replacing the word "try" with "do" or "commit" and see if you feel a difference in how you do things. You'll also start to notice when other people use the word, and see that they're not really committed to what they say they will "try" to do.

If you really want something to happen, then make a commitment to do what it takes to achieve it, and give up trying. Start with a plan of what you need to do to achieve it. Get support from a partner or coach to keep you accountable. Read some books or take a class if you need to gain some more knowledge to find out the best way to achieve what you want. And definitely align your mind with the belief that you can and you will achieve what you want to happen.

Then release your need and your attachment for your particular outcome to happen at a certain time and in a certain way. When you are "trying too hard" you are not allowing what you want to happen. You may be "trying" because you are afraid it won't happen and you think you can control the outcome. If you replace the fear with faith that if you do everything you can, and you commit to the process, and you release your attachment to the results, you will have your outcome.

You may not be able to "make" it happen, because everything is not always under your control. But when you commit to something, and take action, and line up your beliefs, your chances of success multiply. As you settle into a level of confidence and peace, you will be more likely to attract everything you need to make that something happen.

Another reason that trying too hard doesn't help you achieve your outcome, is that it puts up resistance. When you are efforting, you are in struggle and may be blocking that which you want to come to you. Suppose, for example, you want to lose weight. Trying hard to lose weight might mean you try to diet, but you slip up because when you restrict yourself from eating certain foods, your resistance pops up and wants those foods as if your life depended on it. Or in trying hard to lose weight you may push yourself to exercise every day. But, because you're forcing it, you'll probably rebel and find excuses not to take that walk or go to the gym. We've all done it, so I'm sure you can relate.

What if instead of trying hard to lose weight, we just decided to eat healthy foods, eat moderately, and do exercise we enjoyed when we felt like it? Without the pressure, we are more likely to lose the weight effortlessly.

I've become more observant of when I am "trying" too hard and am working to cut back on my "trying" and increase my choosing and committing. It's your life and every moment you make your choices. Experiment with these ideas and see if they make a difference for you. I have a feeling they will.