Change Your “Have To” to “Get To”

Hello, dear readers!

I’ve been really chomping at the bit to get back to writing.  To find the time, I chose to cut out some extracurricular activities, and now I plan to check in on the regular.

One thing I’ve been wanting to share with you is this idea of changing our “have to’s” to “get to’s.”

When I was getting bogged down in some studies recently, I noticed that the way I referred to what I needed to get done was like this, “I have to do some homework.”  Or, “I have to do the laundry.”  Or, “I have to cook some meals for the week.”  I would follow this with some kind of scrunched up facial expression to indicate that this was not going to be a pleasant task.

I started to notice that when I was making these statements, or thinking these thoughts, my energy became weary.  I felt stressed and anxious about my to-dos, these terrible chores that were sucking up my time.

But, I reminded myself, the truth is, I get to do these chores.  For one, going back to school is an incredible journey that I am thrilled about.  No one is forcing me to do any of it.  It’s a blessing to pursue my dream.

Then I started realizing, really, all of my “have to’s” are blessings.  Take these examples:

1. I have to study vs. I get to study.  I am thankful to have the opportunity, time, and resources to be in school and pursue a career change.
2. I have to clean the house vs. I get to clean the house.  I am thankful to have a house to live in, let alone clean.
3. I have to cook for my family vs. I get to cook.  I am blessed to have food in my kitchen, and to have someone to cook for. (And, a furry cat to feed, too.)
4. I have to do the laundry vs. I get to do laundry.  I am thankful that I have clothes, let alone have clothes to wash.
5. I have to go to work vs. I get to go to work.  I am really thankful to have a job, and clients who make my work easy and fun.
6. I have to workout vs. I get to workout.  I am super thankful to have a body that moves when I want it to, and I get to take care of it so it can take care of me.

When I practiced changing the way I thought about my to-do list – changed from having to do something to getting to do it – the way I felt about it changed, too.  I mean, the way I felt inside, physically in my cells, changed.  If I approached it like it was a drag to do something, I felt tired, resentful, and like I wanted to get through it as quickly as possible, to do something else more “fun.”

But, when I realized that, really, everything I “have to” do is a blessing, I felt excited to get started and enthused about the outcome.

Thoughts become things.  Our thoughts manifest into us physically.  If we believe something is going to be difficult and uncomfortable, it will be, for sure.

If we can change our self-talk, to count our blessings instead of our chores, we can affect a physical change that will brighten our outlook on things.  I promise you’ll notice a difference from the first time you practice this.

Perhaps the only two things we can control are our thoughts and the way we react to anything.  Practice replacing your negative thoughts with positive ones.  It’s a great place to start making changes in your life.  I think you’ll be surprised at how powerful the outcome can be.

Thanks for reading!

P.S. Are you signed up for “Notes from the Universe?”  I received the perfect email regarding this topic the other day.  It went like this:

“Whatever you focus on, you will experience.  When you talk about “what is” or “what was,” you project more of the same into the future.

If you ask more than you give thanks, you’ll believe less in your own power.

If you insist that it’s hard and that you’re lonely, you’ll find that it is and you are.

Or, you can choose to focus on what you like, what you love, and how very photogenic you are.”  🙂