Our mind plays tricks on us. For instance, we look in the mirror and think that what we see is a faithful image of ourselves. But in fact, if we really think, we realise that it’s not. In a mirror, everything on the left is actually on the right, and everything on the right is actually on the left. In other words, we’re looking at a reversed image of ourselves. But we don’t think about it when we are combing our hair or, in the case of women, putting on make-up, do we?

Likewise, the way you perceive some things in life can give you a distorted idea of reality if you don’t stop to really think about it. Now, think about what that could do to your ability to make correct decisions…

One of these mind tricks I have realised recently is what I call the “To want vs. To do” illusion. People often think they want one thing when in fact they want another. It usually goes like this: Ask a person whether they want something like being rich, getting married, have a great relationship, lose weight, or see their children succeed. Of course the answer will be a resounding ‘Yes!’ They say yes because they think they want these things. But do they really?

Now here’s the trick. It’s not the fact that you think you want something that shows you want it. It’s what you do that shows what you really want.

A man says he wants to be rich but keeps going to his dead-end, low-paying nine-to-five job, and doing nothing to change his finances. He thinks he wants to be rich. But what does he really want? As shown by what he does, he really wants to continue being poor.

A wife says she wants peace in her marriage but keeps on disrespecting her husband and criticising him every time she gets a chance. She thinks she wants peace. But what does she really want? As shown by what she does, she really wants war.

Are you beginning to get it?

It’s what you do that shows what you want.

Do you want to know what you really want? Look at what you do, not at what you wish for. And then, of course, if you find what you do is not what you should be doing, then you know where the change has to begin – in your actions.
Say it to yourself: “It’s what I do that shows what I want.”

I was going to end by saying ‘Think about it’ – but that would mean I haven’t learned my own lesson… So, instead, I say to you:

Go and DO something about it.