The Triple-Dog-Dare
THE TRIPLE-DOG-DARE
The other day, my sister called me to say she just heard a news report about a boy in Boise, Idaho who got his tongue stuck to a pole. Yes, just like Flick from “A Christmas Story,” and, just like in the movie, the local fire department came to his rescue. Thank goodness, the kid escaped unharmed and with his tongue still intact. Even so, my immediate reaction – and I’m not particularly proud admitting this — was to burst out laughing.
Undoubtedly, my having watched “A Christmas Story” at least 200 times was the motivating force behind my laughter. As my sister relayed the news, the image of Flick stuck to the pole immediately popped into my mind’s eye. That scene is my personal favorite, and I laugh just thinking about it. (I’m laughing right now.) It was an automatic behavioral response, and the soundtrack provided by my sister over the phone only served to reinforce it. She does a spot-on “Flick” imitation that never fails to crack me up. Her Flick rendition has become a family tradition that signals that lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which the entire kid year revolved, is on it’s way.
Another little fun fact connected to this news report was that this whole tongue-to-pole situation occurs quite often and is not limited to curious children. Invariably, during the winter months, people willingly stick their tongues to poles or other metal objects. Some simply can’t resist the urge to test the basic principles of thermal conductivity. Yet, others get caught up in a “triple-dog-dare” situation either goaded on by a Schwartz-like outside source, or actually self-imposed. Either way, the result is the same. Their own thinking, or lack thereof, results in their becoming stuck, stuck, stuck!!
As crazy as it seems, this type of behavior is only a couple of clicks away from certain “triple-dog-dare” situations that many of us create for ourselves. Think about it. Have you ever purposely done something despite knowing somewhere in your mind that the outcome was not going to be in your best interests? Have you ever repeated a behavior or engaged in a certain type of relationship that failed you in the past but you still hoped or expected that this time would result in a different outcome? Have you felt like your life was stuck, stuck, stuck?!!
It’s actually pretty common stuff. It happens when we purposely allow our emotional thinking to overwhelm our logical thinking. There is nothing wrong with emotional thinking, per se. The problems occur when we tap into our own vat of negative emotional thinking that we have stored up and use it to reinforce our own negative self-perceptions. As our negative self-perceptions become fortified, out tendency to engage in negative emotional thinking becomes stronger. It’s a vicious cycle and we are usually unaware of being stuck in it. However, unlike Flick who claimed that being stuck really didn’t hurt, our being stuck does hurt us. It results in self-inflicted wounds – sort of like shooting your own eye out.
The key to becoming “unstuck” is to take a moment to stop and just stand still. Nobody move! Give yourself a chance to allow the logical part of your thinking to weigh in. Take as much time as necessary to assess whether what you plan to do will really result in a favorable outcome. Stop and fully consider whether the behavior or situations you may be engaging in or repeating will actually yield a favorable outcome this time around. Most importantly, triple-dog-dare yourself to be as honest as you possible can be with yourself. Then, whenever necessary, take the time and make the effort to implement positive adjustments to your thinking and your behavior.
Taking these steps might not be easy, but it will help you to develop and sharpen a self-awareness that will serve your best interests and allow you to move your life forward. Furthermore, every time you make a positive adjustment, the whole process becomes easier and your life will become more fulfilling – and that’s a real major award.
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and peace in the New Year.
Tricia Ferrone, Capital LifeWorks
http://www.capitallifeworks.com/
Tags: behavior, emotional thinking, fulfilling