The core concept in this Mind Mastery Class is probably the most researched topic in psychology. It may be what brought you into this field in the first place. I remember almost twelve years ago realizing that my thoughts seemed to gravitate toward figuring out what made people do the bizarre things they do (OK, what made me do the bizarre things I did). So let’s look at the word “motivation;”

Motivation is derived from the Latin word movere, “to move”
motivation

n : the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action; the reason for the action; "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives" [syn: motive, need]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Motivate \Mo"ti*vate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -vated; p. pr. & vb. n. -vating.] [From Motive, n.] To provide with a motive; to move; impel; induce; incite. -- Mo`ti*va"tion, n. --William James.

We want our clients to realize there is no difference between procrastination and motivation. There is the person (client), the action (let’s say exercise) and an energy that either attracts or repels. The energy is the same; it is only directed in different ways. Why is that? Perhaps the solution is in the definition of procrastination:

Procrastinate : To keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring.

Source: Cambridge International Dictionary of English

Naturally, the “other-than-conscious” mind acts on our perception of an event. If the perception is one of value and pleasure, it will naturally attract us to that event. If the perception is one of unpleasantness, then we move away from it. That is pretty obvious. This class is designed to stop the old pattern of perception and to install a new pattern of perception with the “weight-loss challenge, staying in the NOW.” In the present moment is the gift of clear choices not based on past perceptions. A great question that provokes a new pattern is, “Right here and right now, what is most important for me?”

Using the resource of procrastination in a way that leads to positive results in the reframe that we are creating is the main concept throughout the class and is a tool that we are giving our clients. However, being in the right “state” is what converts the energy from one of repulsion to one of attraction, and that is the education part of the class.

Look for the CD "Turning Procrastination into Motivation" at your local Positive Changes center.