A simple practice to incorporate Thought/Word/Deed into your life

As simple as the philosophy of TWD is it can still be a lot to keep in mind as you go about living life. So I’ve come up with a method to tie it all together.

An idealized Self-Identity.

First, you want to create an idealized version of your Self-Identity. This is who you would be and what you would do if you were the very best person you could possibly be. Chances are you already have something along these lines in your consciousness. I am suggesting you make a formal copy in writing.

This does not need to be exhaustive in detail. Begin with what is important to you. If you did things differently what would make the biggest impact in your life? This is a little like goal setting except you are only looking at your behavior not results. Put it all in the context of what you will do. (For further clarification on the difference between results and behaviors read this post I wrote earlier.)

Here’s an example of a good first draft. This is an idealized Self-Identity of someone concerned about their health and organization. “If I were my very best self:

• I would get up when the alarm goes off.
• I would write and use a ‘to do’ list daily.
• I would eat four servings of vegetables every day.
• I would drink at least 10 cups of water every day.
• I would exercise for 30 minutes every day on the plan my trainer set me up on.”

I called it a first draft because the best you can envision for yourself will naturally evolve as you become this new person. You will start with the simple and easy then move toward the more difficult and complex.

Begin with what you believe you can handle. If you have taken on too much ease back a little. Find the point at which you are challenged yet feel confident of victory. That’s the sweet spot. You don’t want to become discouraged. It may take some experimentation.

How am I doing?

Now you have a new standard against which to compare your current behavior. Next you will ascertain your consistency with this new Self-Identity using Intentional Questions. At any time you can ask yourself questions like:

• How am I being consistent with my new Self-Identity, right now?
• What am I doing well, right now, that is consistent with my new Self-Identity?
• How is what I just did perfect? or just right? or just what I wanted?

The main idea being that you are directing your awareness to find how you are being consistent with your idealized Self-Identity in the moment. The immediacy is important. You need to become aware as soon as you do something right. Why? Because now you are in a position to reinforce that new behavior. Self-Identity Shaping is integral to this method.

To train yourself to behave in this new way you need to be aware when it happens, then you need to reinforce it. The better you are at Self-Identity Shaping the faster you will learn anything. Be aware of the tiniest improvement, reinforce it, and be amazed how quickly you can become your best self.

I can do better.

Your next step is to determine how to increase your consistency. Now use Intentional Questions to become aware of what you can do better:

• What could I do, right now, to increase my consistency with my new Self-Identity?
• How could I become more consistent, right now?
• What is the simplest thing I could do to be more consistent?

When you come up with some options pick one. Do it immediately. Act As If this is who you are and what you do. Act As If it’s second nature. And having done it reinforce it. And on and on.

An overview.

To be perfectly clear about what you will be doing, here are the above steps:

1. Create an idealized version of your Self-Identity.

2. Use Intentional Questions to ascertain your consistency in the moment.

• a. Reinforce consistency immediately (or at least as soon as you can) using Self-Identity Shaping.

3. Use Intentional Questions to determine how to increase consistency.

4. Implement the new behavior immediately (or at least as soon as possible) by Acting As If this is what you do naturally.

• a.Reinforce the new behavior as in Step 2a.

There are no rules.

I came up with today’s method on the spur of the moment. You can do the same thing. Once you understand the principles you can apply them in your own original manner. You are unique. Your goals are particular to you and your situation. To have someone else dictate the best approach for your achievement is to neglect your own intelligence.

My first post was entitled Creating one’s own path in this world. This is what is required from all of us. I believe the philosophy of Thought/Word/Deed, as I have described it, is the essence of what we all do. I didn’t create this way as much as I uncovered it. I have found it useful in my life. I decided to write about it here in hopes that you would find it useful in yours. As you apply the principles you will create your own path of self-control and achievement.

Onward.

This is the last post in which I will be exploring TWD in such a basic fashion. We’ve gone over all the terms. We’ve explored all the basic understandings. From here on out I will be much less structured in my approach. I plan on writing about how to use TWD in many common areas of life. Such as: time/self-management, fitness and health, relating and relationships, work, finance, and whatever else is of interest. From here on the blog will grow organically through what is going on in the lives of you, the readers (of which I hope to increase in number), and myself.